There is nothing like that for the common cold, it is worth gold 

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "There is nothing like that for the common cold, it is worth gold," sometime in 19th century France. In it, Daumier employs caricature to mock the bourgeoisie. The image depicts a couple, presumably middle-class, clad in nightclothes and huddled around a single candle. Daumier exaggerates their features, emphasizing their ordinariness with humor. The caption suggests a folk remedy, lampooning the reliance on homespun solutions. France in the 19th century was a society undergoing rapid change, with a growing middle class and increasing social stratification. Institutions like the press, including satirical prints such as this, played a critical role in shaping public opinion. Daumier's work often commented on the social structures of his time, and the image here satirizes bourgeois pretensions and highlights the gap between social aspirations and everyday realities. Understanding Daumier's context requires looking into the history of printmaking, the rise of the popular press, and the social dynamics of 19th-century France. This unveils how art serves as a mirror, reflecting and challenging the norms of its time.