Let's leave Madame... these nudes are revolting... (aside) I'll come back later., from 'At the Salon,' published in Le Charivari, May 5, 1866

Art Historical Context

Step into the witty world of 19th-century French satire with Honoré Daumier's *Let's leave Madame... these n are revolting... () I'll come back later a lithograph from his series *At the Salon*, published in the satirical newspaper *Le Charari* on May 5, 1866. Daumier, a masteraturist and pioneer of social commentary through prints, skewers the bourgeois visitors at the annual Paris Salon—the prestigious art exhibition where nudes were both celebrated and scandalized. Here, a hypocritical gentleman feigns outrage to his companion while whispering plans for a solo return, capturing the era's prudish pretensions amid artistic boldness. Printed on newsprint in lithography—a technique Daumier perfected for its bold lines, expressive distortions, and mass accessibility—this second-state impression (per Delteil catalog) measures a compact 8 11/16 × 7 15/16 inches. The medium's ephemerality suited *Le Charivari*'s sharp critiques of politics, society, and culture, making art accessible beyond elite circles. Daumier's exaggerated features and dynamic composition amplify the humor, reflecting Realism's influence while lampooning high society's double standards. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Rogers Fund, 1922), this piece endures as a cultural snapshot of 1860s Paris, where art salons sparked public fervor. It reminds us how caricature bridged entertainment and critique, inviting laughter at our own hypocrisies. (198 words)

About the Artist

Destouches|Honoré Daumier|Arnaud de Vresse (French|French) · 1808 |1800 –1879 |1900

French, Marseilles 1808–1879 Valmondois|Paris