La fourmi

Executed in lithography, the print relies on the artist’s direct drawing on a stone surface, allowing for swift, gestural lines and tonal variations. Daumier’s characteristic bold outlines and economical shading convey motion and crowd density without excessive detail, demonstrating the medium’s capacity for rapid, expressive reportage of contemporary scenes.

Created during a period of rapid urban expansion in France, La fourmi reflects the growing visibility of public institutions such as savings banks and the increasing density of street life. Daumier’s work aligns with the realist impulse of the era, documenting ordinary people and the infrastructure that defined the modern French city.