On the Champs-Elysées. Tasting of the industrial products of different brewers, plate 18 from L'exposition Universelle 1855

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, titled "On the Champs-Elysées. Tasting of the industrial products of different brewers," captures a scene from the Universal Exposition in 19th century France. Daumier was a master of social commentary, and here, he subtly critiques the burgeoning industrialization of leisure. The Universal Expositions were designed to showcase industrial progress, but Daumier turns his eye to the public's consumption of it. Look at the figures around the table. What do you notice about their expressions? Are they enjoying the experience? Through caricature, he questions the quality and meaning of mass-produced pleasures. His work reminds us to consider the social conditions that shape artistic production and the politics of imagery. By consulting period newspapers and exhibition catalogs, we can better understand how Daumier's art challenged the social norms of his time and reflected the changing relationship between art, industry, and the public.