A satirical 1859 lithograph by Honoré-Victorin Daumier critiquing the geopolitical and economic motivations behind the Opium Wars.

This lithograph by Honoré-Victorin Daumier, titled 'Passant la revue des fumeurs d'opium', forms part of his series 'En Chine'. Published in the Parisian journal Le Charivari on 7 January 1859, the work provides a biting commentary on the geopolitical and economic motivations behind the Second Opium War. Daumier, a master of the lithographic medium, employs his characteristic expressive line work to depict a Western military figure inspecting a line of opium smokers. The contrast between the rigid, upright posture of the Western officer and the slumped, lethargic figures of the smokers serves as a visual critique of colonial exploitation and the forced opening of markets.

Daumier was well known for his ability to condense complex political situations into singular, punchy images. In this print, the sub-title 'Histoire de faire aller le commerce' (A history of making trade go) explicitly links the physical act of opium consumption to the broader, cynical objectives of international trade policy. The artist uses loose, gestural strokes to define the figures, focusing on the grotesque exaggeration of features to convey moral decay and institutional hypocrisy. The composition is stark, with the officer standing as a looming presence over the seated, incapacitated individuals. This work remains a significant example of nineteenth-century satirical printmaking, demonstrating how artists utilised the press to engage with contemporary debates regarding imperialism and human cost. The print was produced by the lithographic firm Destouches in Paris, a common collaborator for Daumier during this period of his career.