Unknown, maybe Hippolyte Lucien-Joseph Lucas (1807-1878), a Journalist, maybe P.Mendez de Vigo (1790-1860) a Spanish General, but Most Probably the Count Pelet de la Lozere (1785-1871), a Politician 1833

This small, unpainted clay sculpture of a man with a prominent nose and a cap was made by Honoré Daumier in France, likely in the mid-19th century. Daumier was deeply invested in the social and political issues of his time. He used his art as a form of social commentary, often targeting the bourgeoisie and political figures of the July Monarchy. Daumier was a master of caricature, and he used this skill to expose what he saw as the hypocrisy and corruption of the ruling classes. The exaggerated features and unflattering portrayal of this man suggest a critical perspective. The sculpture may have been produced in connection to the artist’s work for the satirical publication Le Charivari. Daumier took aim at the figures who populated the Palais de Justice, the seat of French law. To fully understand this work, we can consult newspapers, journals, and archives that shed light on Daumier’s world. The meaning of this sculpture is tied to the social and institutional contexts in which it was created and circulated.