An Awkward Situation, plate 52 from Les Bons Bourgeois

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier, a master of 19th-century French satire, created *An Awkward Situation plate 52 from his series *Les Bons Bour* in 1847. This lithograph the pretentious and comically uncomfortable world of the rising middle class during France's July Monarchy, period of political tension under King Louis-Philippe. Daier's sharp wit targeted the "bons bourgeois"—the self-important shopkeepers and professionals—who aped aristocratic manners while navigating social faux pas. The image exemplifies Daumier's signature style: bold, exaggerated caricatures with expressive faces and dynamic poses that convey volumes through minimal lines. Produced as a black lithograph on white wove paper (image 25.6 × 21.2 cm), it highlights lithography's revolutionary potential for affordable, mass-distributed commentary. Daumier, a prolific printmaker, used the medium to critique societal hypocrisies, often landing him in legal trouble for his political edge. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, this work remains a vivid snapshot of class anxieties on the eve of the 1848 Revolution, inviting viewers to chuckle at timeless human awkwardness while reflecting on power and pretense.

About the Artist

Honoré-Victorin Daumier · 1808–1879

Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...