Qué qu'vous êtes ... devenu, m'sieu Lebrun? ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, titled "What! have you become a chestnut seller, Mr. Lebrun? –I have become a chestnut, at the Bourse!", as a print in the series “Everything you like” for the Le Charivari periodical. Published in France during the 19th century, this image reflects the period's social and economic tensions. The scene depicts a well-dressed man, presumably Monsieur Lebrun, encountering a chestnut seller, a profession seen as lower class. The caption reveals that Lebrun has fallen from wealth due to financial misfortune at the stock exchange, known as Bourse. Daumier uses caricature to highlight the social commentary; the exaggerated features underscore the class disparities and the precariousness of wealth. His work often critiqued the bourgeoisie and the societal impact of economic instability. Studying the prints alongside archival materials from the French stock exchange and period publications, can provide a deeper understanding of Daumier’s critique. The image’s meaning is contingent on its social and institutional context, revealing the public role of art as social commentary.