Petits! petits! petits!... venez! venez! venez! venez donc Dindons! - Honoré Daumier

A satirical 1834 lithograph by Honoré Daumier depicting King Louis-Philippe I as a bandit feeding his ministers, who are portrayed as turkeys.

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, published in the journal La Caricature in 1834, offers a biting critique of King Louis-Philippe I. Daumier depicts the monarch as a bandit, complete with an eye patch and a curved blade, luring his ministers, represented as turkeys, with scraps of paper labelled with monetary values. The title, which translates to 'Little ones! little ones! little ones! come! come! come! come here turkeys!', mocks the perceived corruption and the transactional nature of the July Monarchy's political appointments.

Daumier was a master of the lithographic medium, using it to challenge the authority of the French state. His work often focused on the social and political inequalities of his time. In this piece, the king is shown feeding his subordinates, who are depicted as foolish birds, suggesting a system built on bribery and sycophancy. The composition is stark, focusing on the interaction between the central figure and the poultry, with the rough, expressive lines characteristic of Daumier's style. The artist's ability to capture the grotesque in human form allowed him to communicate complex political ideas through simple, visual metaphors. This print is a primary example of the satirical press in nineteenth-century France, where artists used their craft to hold power to account. The work remains a clear record of the tensions between the monarchy and the public during this period, demonstrating the artist's sharp eye for human folly and institutional decay.