Just imagine my good fellow.... if they knew how we make their cheese, they surely wouldn't hurry so much, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, December 30, 1865

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph “Just imagine my good fellow.... if they knew how we make their cheese, they surely wouldn't hurry so much” appeared in the French satirical journal *Le Charivari* on December 30, 1865. Created during the Second Empire, the print belongs to Daumier’s long-running “News of the Day” series, in which he used everyday scenes to comment on contemporary society. The witty caption hints at a shady production process—likely a metaphor for political or commercial deception—while the hurried figures underscore the public’s eagerness to consume without questioning. Daumier, a master of caricature, employed the lithographic medium to reach a broad audience through inexpensive newsprint. His fluid, expressive line and exaggerated features allowed him to lampoon the bourgeoisie, government officials, and social pretensions with remarkable economy. This second-state impression, now in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, preserves the crisp contrasts typical of his mature graphic work. As both biting social commentary and a landmark of nineteenth-century printmaking, the sheet exemplifies how Daumier transformed the daily newspaper into a powerful vehicle for artistic and political critique.

About the Artist

Honoré Daumier|Destouches|Aaron Martinet · 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...