Robert Macaire legt Bertrand uit hoe hij het publiek moet bedriegen 1837

This lithograph was made by Honoré Daumier, likely in the 1830s. It's a print, and it’s all about the process of image-making, and its relationship to capitalism. Daumier was a master of lithography, a technique that democratized image production in the 19th century. Lithography involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a stone, treating it with chemicals, and then printing multiple copies. In this image, we see two figures, Robert Macaire and Bertrand, engaged in a shady discussion. The lines are loose and flowing, capturing the characters' slyness. Look closely, and you can almost feel the greasy crayon sliding across the lithographic stone. Daumier used lithography to make social commentary. He was interested in the way that people were being exploited by the powerful, and the role that money played in society. The artist used the print medium to critique power, laying bare the mechanics of political corruption and social inequality. The very process by which the image was made mirrors the themes of mass production and consumption that he critiques.