Faut-y qu'il en ait fume des pipes celui-la

Executed in lithography, the work relies on the medium’s capacity for fluid, gestural lines. Daumier employs a loose, sketch‑like rendering of the surrounding architecture, allowing the human subjects to dominate the visual field while the cityscape recedes into suggestion.

Created during Daumier’s prolific period of social commentary, the print was produced in the 1850s, a decade when the artist frequently explored contemporary street scenes. It has since circulated through various collections of 19th‑century French prints, remaining a representative example of his urban genre work.

The lithograph aligns with a broader 19th‑century interest in depicting ordinary people and everyday moments, a shift away from grand historical narratives. Daumier’s choice of a modest urban setting and informal figures mirrors the rise of modern life in Paris and the growing visibility of public leisure activities.