"- I wonder why this beast is following me all the time... I'll happily be paying 6 sous to jump on a bus," plate 1 from Émotions De Chasse

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier, a master of 19th-century French caricature, captures the absurdities of Parisian life in 1854 lithograph, the first plate from his series *Émotions Chasse* ("Hunting Emotions"). witty title—"I wonder why this beast following me all the time I'll happily be paying 6 sous to jump on a"—depicts a flustered bourgeois fleeing what is likely a relentless creditor or bailiff, the "beast" of debt shadowing his every step. Rendered in bold black ink on white wove paper (image 21.3 × 26.1 cm), it reflects Daumier's signature satirical bite, poking fun at the financial woes and social pretensions of Second Empire France. Daumier's lithography technique shines here: drawn directly on stone, it allowed for rich tonal contrasts and expressive lines that convey frantic motion and exaggerated emotion, making his prints affordable and widely circulated in journals like *Le Charivari*. This work exemplifies his Realist style, blending humor with sharp social commentary on urban struggles, from debt to the rising popularity of omnibuses as cheap escapes. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, it invites visitors to chuckle at timeless human follies while appreciating lithography's role in democratizing art.

About the Artist

Honoré-Victorin Daumier · 1808–1879

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...