At the Champs-Elysées. It has never been quite clear whether the music makes the beer go down, or the beer that makes you swallow the music, plate 3 from Croquis Musicaux 1852

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "At the Champs-Elysées," using a greasy crayon on a flat slab of limestone. This was a populist medium, perfectly suited to Daumier’s social critique. The image captures an everyday scene: Parisians enjoying music with beer. But Daumier’s technique elevates it beyond simple illustration. Notice how the velvety blacks of the ink create deep shadows, giving weight and volume to the figures. The quick, scribbled lines convey the energy and bustle of the crowd, while also suggesting the alienation of modern life. Lithography was a relatively new technology in the 19th century, enabling mass production of images. This print is one of a series called "Croquis Musicaux," suggesting a mass market eager for affordable entertainment. Daumier's choice of this medium reflects his commitment to reaching a broad audience with his pointed social commentary, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and social critique.