And you, what do you like best at this year's Salon? The beer!, from 'The public at the exhibition,' published in Le Petit Journal pour Rire, June 18, 1864

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier’s lively lithograph captures a witty moment social observation at the Paris of 1864 Published in the popular satirical journal *Le Petit Journal pour Rire*, the print shows two men at the prestigious exhibition—one eagerly asking what companion enjoys most, only to receive the candid, “The beer!” scene pokes gentle fun at the crowds who attended the annual Salon less for the paintings than for the chance to socialize, smoke, and refresh themselves. Daumier, a master of caricature and lithography, used bold, expressive lines to convey character and humor in works meant for mass circulation. Created during France’s Second Empire, this print belongs to his series “The Public at the Exhibition,” which gently satirized the growing middle-class audience for art. By highlighting everyday pleasures over high culture, Daumier reminds viewers that art events have always been as much about people as paintings. Printed on affordable newsprint, the work reached a wide public and remains a charming record of 19th-century Parisian life. Its third state reveals the artist’s careful refinements, preserving the spontaneous energy that made Daumier one of France’s most beloved graphic artists.

About the Artist

Honoré Daumier · 1810–1879

Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...