Attention, Gargouillet, v'la le bourgeois qui passe...

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier's *Attention, Gargouillet, v'la le qui passe...* (1842) is a vivid lithograph on newsprint that captures the sharp social satire for which the artist is renowned. Created during France's July Monarchy under King Louis-Philippe, a period marked by growing class tensions between the rising bourgeoisie and the working poor, this print exemplifies Daumier's role as a pioneering caricaturist. Published in popular journals like *Le Charivari*, his works used humor to critique societal hypocrisies, often landing him in legal trouble for political commentary. The title, translating to "Attention, Gargouillet, here's the bourgeois passing by," depicts street urchins slyly eyeing a pompous middle-class figure, highlighting the resentment and divide between urban underclasses and the newly affluent. Daumier's masterful lithography technique—drawing directly on stone for reproducible, expressive lines—allowed these images to reach wide audiences affordably on newsprint, revolutionizing visual journalism and social critique in 19th-century Europe. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Prints department (acquired via the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund), this piece showcases Daumier's blend of realism and caricature, influencing later movements like Realism. It's a witty reminder of how art can mirror—and challenge—the inequalities of its time.

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...