Chargé ... de garder les insignes de la souverainté c. 19th century

This lithograph, "Chargé ... de garder les insignes de la souverainté," was made by Honoré Daumier. Lithography is a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion of oil and water, using a greasy crayon to draw an image on a stone or metal plate. The image depicts a woman, perhaps a stand-in for those in power, sitting possessively atop a trunk, the supposed container for national sovereignty. The marks left by the crayon are clearly visible, giving the image a raw, immediate quality, akin to a quick sketch. Yet, this apparent spontaneity belies the skilled labor required to create the print. The cross-hatching and shading were carefully applied. Daumier also had to understand the chemistry involved in the lithographic process itself. The very act of creating multiples through printmaking introduces questions of labor, politics, and consumption. This satirical artwork is not just about the image it portrays, but also about the means of its production, highlighting the inherent complexities of art, craft, and social critique.