The Bath at 4 Sous, plate 29 from Croquis D'été 1858

This lithograph was created by Honoré Daumier, and it’s a great example of his witty social commentary. Lithography is a printmaking process using a flat stone or metal plate on which the image areas are worked using a greasy substance, so that the ink will adhere to them while the non-image areas are ink-repellent. Daumier was a master of this medium, and the dense networks of lines he created here really bring this chaotic scene to life. Look closely, and you'll see that the composition is full of people crammed together in a public bath, all rendered with a few deft strokes of the crayon. The title, "The Bath at 4 Sous," gives us a clue about the social context. This was a cheap, working-class bathhouse, a far cry from the luxurious spas enjoyed by the wealthy. Daumier's use of lithography allowed him to create multiple impressions of the artwork, making it accessible to a wider audience. He used these prints to comment on the realities of everyday life for ordinary people, blurring the lines between high art and popular culture.