Agréable vue...des sous-sous, from Croqius Parisiens, published in Le Charivari, November 29, 1856

Art Historical Context

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, titled *Agréable vue...des sous-sous*, appeared in the November 29, 185 issue of *Le Charivari* as part of the *Cro Parisiens* series. Daumier, a master of French caricature, frequently collaborated with publishers like Aaron Martinet and Destouches to create witty on everyday Parisian life. The work a lighthearted, slightly mischievous scene involving men and women, centered on the playful theme of feet and undergarments, reflecting the era’s fascination with fashion and social observation. Printed in the second state of two, this lithograph exemplifies the medium’s importance in 19th-century visual culture. Lithography allowed artists to produce affordable, widely distributed images that reached a broad audience through satirical journals. Daumier’s fluid drawing style and sharp eye for human behavior made such prints both entertaining and insightful, turning fleeting street moments into enduring social commentary. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through the Rogers Fund, the print offers modern viewers a charming glimpse into mid-19th-century Paris, where humor and observation walked hand in hand.