Vois comme ils avaient abimè ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, “Vois comme ils avaient abimé…”, as part of his series "Locataires et Propriétaires". It offers a glimpse into 19th-century Parisian life, marked by rapid urbanization and stark class divisions. Daumier critiques the callousness of property owners toward their tenants. The faceless, shawl-clad figure of the tenant stands beside a landlord, who points out the damaged walls, complaining, "See how they have ruined my walls with their chimney flues... I should not allow the tenants to light fires!". This highlights the power dynamics between the wealthy landlords and the working class, who endured poor living conditions. Daumier was deeply affected by the social inequalities of his time, especially the plight of the poor and marginalized. "I am of this time, I must be of it," Daumier once said, reflecting his commitment to addressing contemporary issues through his art. This artwork reflects the emotional toll of living in a society where basic human needs were often secondary to profit. Daumier invites us to reflect on the human cost of unchecked economic disparity.