Robert ... tu ne soutiens plus la conversation ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, entitled "Robert... tu ne soutiens plus la conversation...", in 19th century France, a period of immense social change. The image, part of a series called "Les Bons Bourgeois", is a biting commentary on middle-class life. Daumier uses visual cues to communicate social standing and moral failings. The disheveled appearance of the seated man, Robert, combined with an empty wine bottle, implies he's drunk, a common stereotype used to criticize bourgeois excess. His friend's upright posture and concerned expression highlights the contrast, but also suggests his hypocrisy. He looks down on Robert, yet he's clearly complicit in his friend's intoxication. France in this era was marked by a growing divide between the wealthy bourgeoisie and the working class. Daumier's work, published in satirical magazines, was a direct challenge to the status quo, using humor to expose the flaws and contradictions of his society. To fully understand Daumier's critique, one could consult periodicals from the time, which provide insight into the prevailing social norms and class tensions that he sought to subvert.