Suffrage universel (Universal Suffrage)

About this work

In this lithograph, a woman in a flowing robe stands on a scale, holding a jug labeled "Suffrage Universel" (Universal Suffrage). She is balanced by a group of men in dark attire, who are precariously perched on the opposite side of the scale. The men appear to be in a state of disarray, with some of them falling off the scale. The woman, on the other hand, exudes a sense of calm and serenity. Her presence seems to be a counterbalance to the chaos of the men. The use of a scale as a symbol of balance and fairness is a powerful commentary on the social and political issues of the time. This lithograph is a great example of Daumier's work in the Realism movement.