Un Matamore portant une... botte...

Executed in lithography, the print employs bold, fluid lines and stark contrasts typical of Daumier’s graphic approach. The medium allowed rapid production for periodicals, enabling sharp, immediate commentary. The exaggerated anatomy and energetic brush‑like strokes heighten the caricature, emphasizing movement and mockery over realistic detail.

Daumier produced this image during the July Monarchy, a period marked by political tension that later extended into the Second Empire. The lithograph appeared in satirical journals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, venues through which the artist regularly disseminated his critiques of the monarchy, clergy, and other authorities.

Mid‑nineteenth‑century France experienced frequent shifts in governance, prompting artists like Daumier to adopt humor as a vehicle for dissent. The print reflects broader societal skepticism toward ostentatious displays of power, aligning with contemporary caricatures that exposed the gap between public posturing and actual political substance.

While not among Daumier’s most widely reproduced works, this lithograph illustrates his enduring commitment to social commentary through accessible visual satire. It continues to be referenced in studies of political caricature, demonstrating how lithography served as a potent tool for challenging authority in the public sphere.