The New Neapolitan Buffoon. “- Polichinelle, Polichinelle, you have cudgelled the others long enough... now it's your turn. We will bring you to reason...,” plate 221 from Actualités

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier's *The New Neapolitanoon*, created in 1855 as 221 from his *Actualités* series, the artist's sharp satirical wit through a lithograph on white wove paper. Daumier, a leading French caricaturist of the 19th century, often used bold, expressive lines to critique society and politics under Napoleon III's Second Empire. Here, the title's reference to Polichinelle mischievous commedia dell'arte character akin to Punch—suggests a mocking commentary on power, with the caption's taunt implying a reversal of fortunes: the bully now faces the cudgel. Lithography was Daumier's preferred medium, allowing him to produce affordable, widely circulated prints that reached a broad audience despite censorship pressures. The image's compact dimensions (24 × 22.4 cm) belie its dramatic impact, blending caricature's exaggeration with incisive social observation. Printed in stark black on white, it exemplifies the Realist movement's unflinching gaze on human folly. This work reflects mid-19th-century France's vibrant print culture, where artists like Daumier challenged authority through humor. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, it invites visitors to ponder timeless themes of retribution and reason in the hands of a master satirist.

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...