Va te faire achever pour moi 1871

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, whose title translates as ‘Go get yourself killed for me’, as part of his extensive commentary on 19th-century French society. This image critiques the politics of imagery. Daumier comments on France’s changing relationship with Italy and the Church. The cartoon shows a female figure wearing a papal tiara, who might represent the Catholic Church, demanding that France send its troops to Italy. France is represented by another female figure in a classical robe who sits wearily with a rifle and a shield bearing the country’s name. Rome is visible in the background. This political cartoon references Pope Pius IX’s loss of control over Rome and Daumier mocks France’s support for the Vatican. We can understand the image better by looking at French newspapers from this time. We see Daumier used his artistic talent as a form of social commentary. His art allows us to reflect on the social conditions that shape artistic production and its reception.