Nous sommes tous d'honnêtes gens, embrassons-nous et que ça finisse! - Honoré Daumier

A sharp political satire by Honoré Daumier, depicting the hypocrisy of the French political elite through a scene of performative, insincere embraces.

This lithograph, published in the journal La Caricature in 1834, captures the biting social commentary of Honoré Daumier. The scene depicts a group of men in formal attire engaged in a performative embrace. Their gestures appear insincere, as their hands are busy picking the pockets of those they pretend to greet. The title, translated as 'We are all honest men, let us embrace and be done with it', mocks the hypocrisy of the political class during the July Monarchy.

Daumier uses his mastery of lithography to create strong contrasts between light and shadow. The figures are rendered with expressive, slightly exaggerated features that define his signature style. The man on the left, standing apart with a knowing smirk, serves as a witness to the duplicity occurring in the centre. The composition draws the eye to the central cluster of figures, where the physical act of hugging masks the underlying theft.

As a contributor to satirical publications, Daumier frequently targeted the corruption of the legal and political systems. This work is a critique of the moral bankruptcy he perceived in the ruling elite. The print demonstrates his ability to translate complex political grievances into a single, legible image. The lines are fluid yet precise, allowing for a sense of volume and weight in the clothing and postures of the subjects. This piece remains a sharp observation of human nature and political theatre, stripped of any unnecessary detail. It provides a window into the tensions of nineteenth-century France, where public displays of unity often concealed private greed.