Oui, monsieur, vous voyez en moi une victime

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier's *Oui, monsieur, vous voyez moi une victime* (, sir, you see me a victim), a lithograph from 1842, captures artist's sharp wit during France's July Monarchy. Daumier, a pioneering caricaturist, used prints to skewer the bourgeoisie, politicians, and legal elite, often facing censorship for his bold social commentary. This work, now in the National Gallery of Art's Corcoran Collection ( of Dr. Armand Hammer likely belongs to his *Les Gens de Justice* series, mocking the pompous world of lawyers and their hapless clients. Lithography was Daumier's ideal medium: drawn directly on stone with greasy crayon, it allowed for rich tonal effects, expressive lines, and affordable mass production, reaching a wide audience through newspapers like *La Caricature*. The title's dramatic plea hints at a courtroom farce, where victims of the system confront self-serving advocates—a timeless critique of justice's absurdities amid France's growing legal bureaucracy. Daumier's influence endures in political cartooning, blending humor with incisive social observation. Visitors will appreciate how this small print packs a punch, reflecting 19th-century tensions between power and the people.

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...