Zakkenrollers voor de etalage van uitgever Aubert 1835

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, titled ‘Pickpockets in front of the publisher Aubert’s shop window’, in France in the 1830s. It depicts a group of men crowding around a shop window, but not all is as it seems. Daumier was a master of social commentary, and here he cleverly uses the guise of street life to critique the moral landscape of his time. The dandy in the top hat is seemingly the victim, but look at the hands of those around him: the title suggests they are not mere bystanders. Publishers such as Aubert were central to the dissemination of satirical prints like this one. Daumier's work often appeared in newspapers and journals, reaching a wide audience and stirring public debate. He was aware of the political power of images. We can see the cultural context of 19th-century Paris influencing the themes and subjects, by researching newspapers, police records and other documents. Understanding Daumier's work requires that we consider the social and institutional forces that shaped his art.