DISCOVERART

Honoré-Victorin Daumier

The usefulness of the crinoline when cheating the customs, plate 414 from Actualités

1857
Lithograph in black on white wove paper
20.8 × 26.7 cm (8.2 × 10.5 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Daumier’s Actualités (News of the Day) lithograph series for the satirical daily Charivari treated many themes, with topics ranging from fashion to politics. Here the trendy crinoline cage supporting newly widened skirts proves a convenient method to shield foodstuffs from taxation; the whalebone frame covers most of a butcher’s larder as well as an oversized wine bottle.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Honoré-Victorin Daumier

Two LawyersTwo LawyersThe Print CollectorThe Print CollectorExploiting friendship. “My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?,” plate 58 from CaricaturanaExploiting friendship. “My dear Alphonse, I've invited theseRobert: “- Well, well! My dear director... how's business?” Bertrand: “- Good, very good, I am quite content. Unfortunately we don't have a penny to continue! - Oh blast! - But an investor still owes us 200,000 Francs... and will come up for signature either tonight or latest tomorrow morning. - About time... I urgently need a new pair of boots,” plate 6 from Robert MacaireRobert: “- Well, well! My dear director... how's business?” Mr. Prune, plate 288 from Célébrités de la CaricatureMr. Prune, plate 288 from Célébrités de la Caricature“God! How I loved that fellow there!,” plate 16 from Caricatures Politiques“God! How I loved that fellow there!,” plate 16 from CaricatA Victim of His Own Politeness, plate 7 from Croquis MusicauxA Victim of His Own Politeness, plate 7 from Croquis MusicauA Candidate. “Who do you want?... An upright, conscientious, sober man, an industrialist, a man who doesn't need the government to enrich himself, a man familiar with the law, who knows it well, through practice, very long practice... a long practice of law... you can't choose any better than... my honorable friend,” plate 48 from CaricaturanaA Candidate. “Who do you want?... An upright, conscientious,

More like this

Des dames d'un demi-monde, mais n'ayant pas de demi-jupes, from Actualités, published in Le Charivari, May 11, 1855Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier|Destouches — Des dames d'un deUn effet de crinoline au bord de la mer, from Actualités, published in Le Charivari, September 17, 1857Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier|Destouches — Un effet de crinoV'la une p'tite femme qu'est pas paresseuse..., from Croquis Dramatiques, published in Le Charivari, January 7, 1857Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier|Destouches — V'la une p'tite fAre you sure at least that I will be comfortable?, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 14, 1866Arnaud de Vresse|Destouches|Honoré Daumier — Are you sure atHusbands Always Make Me Laugh: It's hard to believePaul Gavarni — Husbands Always Make Me Laugh: It's hard to bLes Adieux, from Le Monument du CostumeJean Michel Moreau the Younger|Restif de La Bretonne|Robert The declaration of Damocles, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, March 25, 1870Arnaud de Vresse|Walter Frères|Honoré Daumier|Emile OllivierGoodbyes, from Monument du Costume Physique et Moral de la fin du Dix-huitième siècleNicolas Delaunay — Goodbyes, from Monument du Costume PhysiqCarnavalPaul Gavarni (French, 1804–1866) — CarnavalThe Theatre Doctor (plate 25)Charles Émile Jacque — The Theatre Doctor (plate 25)Plus que ça d'ballon...excusez!, from Actualités, published in Le Charivari, June 13, 1855Honoré Daumier|Destouches — Plus que ça d'ballon...excusez!,Pardonnez-moi, ô mon Dieu!..., from Les Comédiens de Société, published in Le Charivari, April 3, 1858Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier|Destouches — Pardonnez-moi, ô