Vingt sous de denier a Dieu... 1847

This print, “Vingt sous de denier a Dieu…,” by Honoré Daumier, presents a stark social commentary through its linear structure and monochromatic palette. The composition divides the scene into distinct zones. On the left, a disheveled woman confronts the viewer, keys dangling from her hand, while to the right, a couple stands, backs turned, gazing upwards toward an unseen dwelling. Daumier employs a network of fine lines to construct forms and textures. The coarse hatching emphasizes the woman's poverty and the grim environment. The figures are arranged to suggest a power dynamic. The woman's direct gaze challenges the viewer, while the couple seems alienated, absorbed in their own concerns. This division speaks to the socio-economic divisions prevalent in 19th-century Paris, highlighting the plight of the dispossessed. The print uses the formal elements to probe questions about societal values and the dehumanizing effects of economic disparity.