L'Eau du puits de Grenelle 1841

Honoré Daumier's lithograph, *L'Eau du puits de Grenelle,* depicts two men drinking water, a sardonic commentary on 19th-century Parisian life. Daumier lived through a period of immense change, witnessing the Industrial Revolution and rapid urbanization. His artistic output reflects a deep engagement with the political and social issues of his time. Daumier uses caricature to highlight the disparities in urban life and the often-overlooked struggles of ordinary people. The expressions of the men are particularly telling, as one guzzles the water directly from a pitcher, while the other cautiously examines it in a glass. The text at the bottom references the water being bad and containing insects. Through this commentary Daumier touches upon sanitation and class. Daumier's prints acted as a kind of social mirror, reflecting the anxieties and realities of a rapidly changing society back at itself. This image captures a moment of skepticism and unease about the resources available to city dwellers.