S'assurant qu'il n'y a pas de féniant sous son lit, from Actualités, published in Le Charivari, December 21, 1866

Art Historical Context

In the bustling satirical world of 19th-century Paris, Honoré Daum, a master lithographer and caricaturist captured the absurdities of everyday with sharp wit. Published on December21, 1866 in *Le Charivari*—a pioneering humorous newspaper—*S'assurant qu'il'y a pas de féant sous son lit*Making sure there's no lazy under his bed") comes Daumier's *Actualités* series, skewered current events and social follies. This lithograph in its second state of two as cataloged by Delteil, reflects the Second Empire era's tensions between the bourgeoisie and the working class, poking fun at paranoid employers or frugal householders obsessed with idleness. Daumier's expressive style shines in the medium of lithography, which allowed for rapid, affordable production and tonal richness through grease crayon techniques. The image, measuring about 9 x 8 inches, depicts a comically vigilant man peering under his bed, embodying Daumier's signature exaggeration of human foibles. His thousands of prints for *Le Charivari* made him a voice for the underdog, critiquing hypocrisy with bold lines and dynamic compositions. , housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Rogers Fund,1922), this work highlights lithography's role in democratizing art and satire, inviting us to chuckle at timeless fears of laziness while appreciating Daumier's enduring cultural bite.

About the Artist

Honoré Daumier|Destouches|Arnaud de Vresse · 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...