Un paiement de dividende c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "Un paiement de dividende," during a time of significant social and economic change in France. Daumier, known for his satirical commentary on the bourgeoisie, captures the anxieties and contradictions of 19th-century Parisian life. The print depicts a bourgeois man in a top hat receiving a dividend payment. His pinched expression and meager outstretched hand encapsulates a sense of disappointment or disillusionment with the promised returns on investment. The exchange behind the barred window alludes to themes of social class, financial disparity and the often dehumanizing nature of economic transactions. Daumier's work often reflects the socio-political tensions of his time, offering a critical perspective on the values and behaviors of the French middle class. "Excuse me! they announce in all the newspapers that the Capricorne insurance company is able to pay a first dividend, and they do not mention that the dividend is thirty cents per share! I came here in a cab, I do not even have enough to give the driver a tip!..." This lithograph invites us to reflect on the complexities of wealth, status, and the human condition in an era defined by rapid industrialization and economic speculation.