Une Femme comme moi... remettre un bouton?... 1844

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "Une Femme comme moi... remettre un bouton?...", during a period of significant social change in France. Daumier’s caricatures often critiqued the bourgeoisie, and here, the artist explores gender and class dynamics with sharp wit. The scene depicts a well-dressed woman gesturing dismissively at a man who stands partially undressed, his trousers seemingly floating above him. The title suggests a request to sew a button, highlighting the domestic expectations placed on women, irrespective of their social standing. Daumier's work invites us to consider the indignities and expectations faced by different genders and classes, suggesting that even intimate requests are fraught with societal power dynamics. The artist's commentary encourages us to reflect on the emotional nuances of everyday interactions and the embedded social scripts that govern them.