Look, but don't touch!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 25, 1871

Art Historical Context

**Look, but Don't Touch!** (1871) is a sharp satirical lithograph by Honoré Daumier the renowned French caricaturist whose incisive prints filled the pages of *Le Charivari*, a leading Parisian satirical newspaper. Published on August 25 amid the turbulent aftermath of the Franco-Prussian and the Paris Commune, work from the "News of the Day" series Daumier's signature bite. The title evokes a playful yet pointed warning, likely poking fun at political spectators—men gathered around flags—who are urged to observe but not interfere in France's fragile new Third Republic. Daumier's mastery of lithography shines here: printed on inexpensive newsprint in a second state of two (per Delteil cataloguing), it was designed for mass circulation, making elite satire accessible to the public. His exaggerated figures and dynamic compositions critiqued bourgeois hypocrisy, legal pomposity, and social follies, influencing modern cartooning. Measuring a compact 10¼ × 8⅝ inches, this print exemplifies how 19th-century lithography democratized art, blending technical precision with biting humor. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, it reminds us of Daumier's enduring role in wielding art as a weapon against power. Visitors, gaze closely—but heed the title!

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...