Ah! vous êtes mon mari, ah! vous êtes le maître... 1849

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, titled "Ah! vous êtes mon mari, ah! vous êtes le maître…," offers a satirical commentary on gender roles and social upheaval in 19th-century France. Daumier was a fierce critic of bourgeois society, and this work encapsulates his perspective on the era’s changing dynamics between men and women. In this domestic scene, a woman is depicted physically confronting her husband, while a child clings to the man's leg. The lithograph challenges conventional representations of women as passive and subservient. Instead, Daumier presents a woman who is assertive and rebellious against patriarchal authority. The text translates to, "Ah! You are my husband, ah! You are the master... Well, I have the right to throw you out the door." The reference to Jeanne Deroin, a prominent feminist and socialist figure, further contextualizes the work within the era's feminist movements. Daumier captures the emotional intensity of the moment, inviting viewers to reflect on the power dynamics within marriage. He does so with an emotional charge that reflects the societal debates on women's rights and socialism.