Obviously I resemble him!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, January 29, 1866

Art Historical Context

**"Obviously I Resemble Him!" by Honoré DaumierHonoré Daumier, a master of 19th-century French caricature under the pseudonym Destouches, created this lithograph for the satirical newspaper *Le Chariv*'s "News of the" column on January 29, 1866. Published during Napoleon III's Second Empire,umier's biting prints in *Le Charivari*—over 4,000 in total—skewered politicians, the bourgeoisie, and social pretensions, making art accessible to the masses through affordable newsprint. The title, *Obviously I Resemble Him!*, humorously captures a man's vain self-comparison to a sculpture, poking fun at ego and resemblance in a classic Daumier trope. Tags like "Satire," "Sculpture," and "Men" highlight its focus on masculine folly, likely mocking contemporary figures or cultural obsessions with classical statues amid France's neoclassical revival. Printed as a lithograph—the ideal medium for Daumier's fluid, expressive lines allowing rapid production and wide distribution—this second-state impression (per Delteil catalog) exemplifies his technique of dynamic shading and exaggerated features. Acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1922, it's now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Prints collection, preserving Daumier's role in shaping political satire as democratic commentary. (198 words)

About the Artist

Honoré Daumier|Destouches · 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...