“- Say then, Madme. Giboulard … don't you agree that it is not very pleasant for women of our gender, to come down like this everyday, cleaning the gutters of St. Honoré … - That's true, Madame Chaffarou, but we can also praise ourselves of being the only ones to embellish Paris!,” plate 75 from Caricatures Du Jour

Art Historical Context

In 1843, French caricaturist Honoréumier captured the gritty realities of Parisian street life in this lithograph, plate 75 from his series *Caricatures Jour*. Published amid the social upheavals of the July Monarchy, the print depicts two working-class women—Madame Giboulard and Chaffarou—perched precariously on ladders as they clean the gutters of Rue Saint-Honoré, a bustling artery of the city. Their witty dialogue reveals both drudgery and defiance: lamenting the daily toil while proudly claiming to "embellish Paris." Daumier, a master of social satire, used such scenes to humanize the urban poor, critiquing class divides with humor and empathy. Daumier's lithographic technique—drawing directly on stone with greasy crayon for sharp, reproducible lines—revolutionized printmaking, allowing his biting commentaries to reach wide audiences via newspapers like *Le Charivari*. Here, the black-on-white wove paper emphasizes expressive faces and dynamic poses, hallmarks of his realist caricature style influenced by the Romantic era. At just 22.9 × 17.8 cm, this intimate image packs a punch, inviting viewers to reflect on labor's unsung heroes. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection, this work exemplifies Daumier's enduring legacy: over 4,000 lithographs that shaped 19th-century visual journalism and championed the overlooked.

About the Artist

Honoré-Victorin Daumier · 1808–1879

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...