Ah! monstre, vous vous permettez... 1840

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph titled "Ah! monstre, vous vous permettez..." which translates to "Ah! monster, you dare..." as part of his series, 'Proverbes de Famille' ('Family Proverbs'). Daumier was a master of social commentary, using caricature to critique the bourgeoisie during a time of significant social and political change in France. The artwork depicts a tense domestic scene: a father, drawn with exaggerated features, scolds his son. Daumier uses the lithographic medium to its full potential, creating stark contrasts and detailed textures that enhance the emotional intensity of the scene. Notice the father's looming figure and the child's defensive posture which speak volumes about power dynamics within the family and society at large. The inscription reads: "Ah! monster, you dare to say that I am an old melon, and that my hairs are a wig: who loves well, chastises well!" This reveals the father's vanity and the era’s common belief in strict paternal discipline. Daumier’s work serves as a mirror reflecting the complex and often contradictory values of 19th-century French society, inviting us to reflect on the ways these dynamics persist today.