Oui, chère amie, jaloux tant que tu voudras!... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, Oui, chère amie, jaloux tant que tu voudras!..., as a satirical commentary on marriage in 19th-century France. Daumier was a master of social critique, and this piece, whose title translates to "Yes, dear friend, be as jealous as you like!," is no exception. Consider the cultural context: post-revolutionary France was grappling with changing social norms and class tensions. Here, we see a soldier, presumably a husband, confronting his wife in bed. The scene suggests a critique of bourgeois domestic life and perhaps even questions the power dynamics within marriage itself. Daumier's work often appeared in journals like "Le Charivari," making his art accessible to a broad public. This print's humor is evident but it also challenges the institution of marriage and the societal expectations placed upon men and women. To delve deeper, research into French social history, gender roles, and the rise of caricature in the press would be invaluable. The meaning of this lithograph is not fixed but is contingent on the ever-shifting landscape of social norms and institutional frameworks.