Which proves again that already since high school man supports himself on the shoulders of his kin in order to advance in life, plate 30 from Professeurs Et Moutards 1846

This lithograph, “Which proves again that already since high school man supports himself on the shoulders of his kin in order to advance in life,” was made by Honoré Daumier in the mid-19th century. Daumier was a master of lithography, a printmaking technique that uses a stone or metal plate with a smooth surface. The artist draws on the surface with a greasy crayon, then applies ink, which sticks only to the drawn areas. The printmaker then transfers the image to paper. Here, the velvety blacks and the crisp lines are evidence of Daumier's command of the medium. But lithography also has a social significance. It was a relatively inexpensive way to produce images, making art more accessible to a wider audience, and well-suited for satire. Daumier used this printmaking technique to comment on social and political issues in France. The composition is a clear metaphor for social climbing, achieved through the exploitation of labor. By considering Daumier’s process, and the context of his work, we can better understand its enduring relevance and the importance of printmaking for the distribution of ideas.