Auguste-Hilarion, Comte de Kératry 19 - 1833

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph of Auguste-Hilarion, Comte de Kératry, using ink on paper. The lithographic process is key to understanding Daumier's work. It involves drawing on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treating the surface so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This printmaking technique allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive production of multiple images. This was especially useful for Daumier, who made his living creating satirical images for newspapers and journals. The very nature of lithography, as a reproductive medium, reflects the rise of mass media and political commentary in 19th-century France. Daumier's skill with the crayon is evident in the nuanced shading and expressive lines that bring Kératry's caricature to life. The material and process are inextricably linked to the work's social context, as Daumier used his artistic talent to critique and comment on the political figures of his time, blurring the lines between art, journalism, and social commentary.