Exploiting friendship. “My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?,” plate 58 from Caricaturana 1837

This is Honoré Daumier’s 1839 lithograph titled "Exploiting Friendship," now residing at the Art Institute of Chicago. The composition divides the scene into two distinct realms. On the left, a group of opportunists, rendered with bold lines and animated expressions, encroach upon the space. The man at the front projects himself forward, invading the other man's personal space. The right side shows a single figure reclining in a plush chair, his languid posture rendered with softer, more delicate strokes. Daumier juxtaposes the active with the passive. The textures of the clothing, from the crispness of the standing figures' attire to the softness of the seated man's robe, emphasize the power dynamics at play. The stark contrast between these forms serves as a commentary on social exploitation. Daumier uses line, color, and form to depict the imbalance of power and the vulnerability of the individual within a predatory social environment, thus making this image a powerful commentary on human relations.