“- I never laughed so much as at the funeral of Bourdin's daughter.......” (Henri Monnier), plate 303 from Souvenirs d’artistes 1862

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph entitled “- I never laughed so much as at the funeral of Bourdin's daughter.......” as part of his series *Souvenirs d’artistes*. Daumier produced this artwork during a period of significant social and political change in France. The burgeoning bourgeoisie and the complex societal norms that came with this new class feature heavily in his work. Daumier’s art often explores themes of social satire and critique, using caricature to comment on the moral and ethical failings of the French middle class. This piece encapsulates the insensitivity that can accompany social performance, particularly within bourgeois society. The quote below the image highlights the dark humor and moral ambiguity present in Daumier's work, inviting us to consider the complex relationship between public appearance and private emotion. Through his art, Daumier challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and social behavior, and to reflect on the values that shape our interactions with one another.