Ah! Ma chère, quand on a un chien ... c. 19th century

This print, by Honoré Daumier, was made using lithography, a process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Daumier drew directly onto a limestone slab with a greasy crayon, allowing for nuanced tonal variations and a sense of immediacy. The stone would have been processed with acid, then inked and printed. It was a relatively quick, efficient method of producing multiple copies. The material qualities of lithography are evident in the print’s grainy texture and the bold, expressive lines that define the figures and their surroundings. Look closely at the way Daumier captures the fabric of the women's dresses, and the rough cobblestones under their feet. The very qualities of the medium imbue the scene with a sense of everyday life. The choice of lithography was no accident; it aligned with Daumier’s commitment to depicting the lives of ordinary people, and making his art accessible to a wide audience, rather than restricting it to the wealthy elite. Through this medium, Daumier blurred the lines between fine art and mass communication, challenging traditional hierarchies of artistic value.