“Sir... Sir... Siiiirrrr... Christ, it's annoying to have a colic when the supervisor is supervising,” plate 13 from Professeurs Et Moutards 1846

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, “Sir... Sir... Siiiirrrr... Christ, it's annoying to have a colic when the supervisor is supervising,” in France, during the 19th century. It is one of a series of prints called "Professeurs et Moutards," which translates to "Teachers and Brats." Daumier was a master of social satire, and in this image, he pokes fun at the rigid and often absurd power dynamics within the French educational system. The teacher, hunched over and seemingly oblivious, represents the detached and ineffectual authority figure. Meanwhile, the restless student, desperate for attention, embodies the frustration and stifled energy of youth trapped within a restrictive system. The text is written in colloquial language which indicates that Daumier sympathizes with the children rather than the teacher. To understand Daumier's work better, it helps to look at the history of French education and the social and political climate of his time. His images offer valuable insights into the everyday lives and power structures of 19th-century France. We can consider how institutions mediate social life, reflecting the cultural assumptions of their time.