Les Temps sont durs...

Executed on lithographic stone, the print showcases Daumier’s characteristic direct drawing method, allowing fluid, spontaneous lines that convey immediacy. The loose, sketchy rendering of the sea and figures highlights the medium’s capacity for rapid, expressive mark‑making, a hallmark of his satirical prints.

Produced during the July Monarchy and early Second Republic, the lithograph formed part of Daumier’s extensive output for opposition publications such as La Caricature and Le Charivari. These outlets provided a platform for his republican sympathies and his critique of political and religious institutions.

In the turbulent climate of 1840s France, Daumier’s prints served as visual commentary on the shifting power structures. By depicting ordinary men in a seemingly mundane setting, he subtly referenced broader societal strains, aligning his work with the era’s burgeoning press culture and the rise of visual satire as a political tool.

Daumier’s lithographs, including this piece, exemplify the fusion of artistic skill and social critique that influenced later caricaturists and political illustrators. The work remains a reference point for the role of print media in shaping public discourse during periods of political upheaval.