Soyez tranquille bourgeois, on connait c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, "Soyez tranquille bourgeois, on connait," in France, around 1862. It depicts a scene of social commentary through caricature. Daumier was a master of visual codes, using the then-popular medium of lithography to critique the bourgeoisie. France in the mid-19th century was a society undergoing rapid industrialization, witnessing a rise in the power of the middle class. The artwork responds to this shift, reflecting anxieties about class relations. The image may critique the institutions of art by using popular print to engage with social commentary. To understand Daumier's work better, we can consult archives, newspapers, and political pamphlets from the time, resources that offer insight into the social conditions that shaped his art. The meaning of this lithograph emerges from its historical and institutional context.