He delights in the ball, plate 10 from Les Banqueteurs

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier's *He delights in the ball*, plate 10 from the *Les Banqueteurs* (1849), captures the artist's sharp wit through a masterful lithograph in black on white wove. Measuring 23.6 × 20.9 cm for the image and housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings department, this print exemplifies Daumier's role as a leading 19th-century French caricist. Working amid the turbulent years following the 1848 Revolution Daumier used his art to skewer the bourgeoisie and political elite, often in the pages of satirical journals like *Le Charivari*. The *Les Banqueteurs* series satirizes the lavish reform banquets of the 1840s, which masked political maneuvering under feasts and revelry. Here, the title evokes ironic delight—perhaps a guest gleefully toying with a ballroom orb or indulging in excess—highlighting Daumier's exaggerated, realistic style. His caricatures blend keen observation with grotesque humor, critiquing social hypocrisy during France's Second Republic. Lithography was Daumier's ideal medium: grease crayon on stone allowed fluid, expressive lines and mass production, making his biting commentary accessible to the public. This affordable print democratized satire, influencing modern political cartooning and cementing Daumier's legacy as a champion of the underdog.

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...