Un Ami est un crocrodile...

Daumier employed the lithographic process, allowing for rapid, gestural lines that convey immediacy. The sketch‑like quality of the drawing emphasizes facial nuances and body language, with the man's tense posture contrasting the woman's warm smile. This loose handling underscores the work’s satirical intent while preserving a sense of spontaneity.

Produced for circulation in the mid‑19th‑century French press, the print circulated among readers of La Caricature and Le Charivari, venues known for political caricature. Its survival in museum collections traces back to acquisitions made in the early 20th century, reflecting growing scholarly interest in Daumier’s role as a visual commentator on his era.

Daumier’s lithographs regularly targeted the monarchy, clergy, and the rising bourgeois class, aligning with his republican sympathies. By embedding criticism within everyday scenes, he contributed to a tradition of visual satire that influenced later French cartoonists and reinforced the lithograph’s status as a medium for public discourse.