Man beschermt zijn oren tegen lawaai 1845

This lithograph, "Man beschermt zijn oren tegen lawaai" was created by Honoré Daumier. In this period, lithography was a relatively new method of printmaking, using a flat stone or metal plate to produce an image. Daumier was a master of this medium, exploiting its capacity for capturing nuances of light and shadow. He drew directly onto the stone with a greasy crayon, allowing for a remarkable freedom of expression. The image itself is a sardonic comment on the rising bourgeoisie of 19th-century France. We see a well-to-do man shielding his ears from the cacophony of street musicians. Daumier here suggests a discomfort of the middle class with the noise and messiness of everyday life. Lithography democratized image production, making art more accessible, but it also exploited cheap labor. Daumier’s prints like this one offer a glimpse into the social tensions of his time. They remind us that art is always embedded in the material conditions of its making.