Plate 19: Robert Macaire at the restaurant, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires

Art Historical Context

Step into the witty world of 19th-century French satire with *Plate 19: Robertaire at the Restaurant*, lithograph by master caricaturist Honoré Daier, published in 1838 as part of the *Caricaturana* in *Les Robert Macaires*. Created the auspices of publisher Charles Philipon and printed by Aubert et Cie this print captures the iconic rogue Robert Macaire—a character popularized in a 1823 vaudeville play—reimagined as a symbol of hypocrisy and opportunism during France's July Monarchy (1830–1848). Daumier and Philipon used Macaire to skewer the era's corrupt financiers, politicians, and social climbers, making these images a bold form of political commentary amid growing censorship. In this fourth-state lithograph on wove paper, Daumier depicts Macaire in a restaurant setting, likely lampooning the excesses of bourgeois dining culture or shady business dealings over a meal. His signature style—exaggerated expressions, dynamic compositions, and incisive social observation—brings sharp humor to the men's interactions, tagged simply yet evocatively as satire on restaurants and masculinity. Lithography's greasy-crayon technique allowed Daumier to produce affordable, widely circulated prints, fueling public discourse. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1953), this 8 7/16 × 10 13/16 in. image remains a testament to caricature's power as a democratic art form, blending artistry with cultural critique for audiences then and now.

About the Artist

Aubert et Cie|Charles Philipon|Aubert et Cie|Junca|Honoré Daumier (French|French|French) · 1808 |1829 |1829 –1879 |1929 |1929

French, Marseilles 1808–1879 Valmondois| |