Le roi des potirons recevant les hommages de ses sujets

Executed in lithography, the image relies on the greasy‑ink process that allows fine lines and tonal variation to be reproduced in multiple impressions. Daumée’s handling of the medium yields a crisp, cartoon‑like quality, emphasizing the exaggerated gestures and the stark contrast between the elaborate costume and the rustic pumpkin.

Created during Daumée’s prolific period of social commentary, the print was produced in the mid‑19th century and circulated as part of his series of satirical illustrations. Original impressions remain in several European museum collections, reflecting the work’s continued relevance as a commentary on social hierarchy.

The lithograph emerges from a tradition of French caricature that flourished in the 1800s, where artists used inexpensive print media to reach a broad audience. Daumée’s choice of a pumpkin, a symbol of autumnal abundance, anchors the piece in rural life while simultaneously subverting the conventions of royal portraiture.