A biting 1903 satirical lithograph by Félix Vallotton, depicting a stern domestic scene with the artist's signature high-contrast graphic style.

This lithograph by Félix Vallotton appeared in the satirical weekly magazine L'Assiette au Beurre in 1903. The work captures a domestic scene of corporal punishment, where a stern figure administers a beating to a child who has failed to memorise their religious lessons. The title, translated as 'You will end up knowing your catechism', provides a biting commentary on the rigid educational and religious structures of the period. Vallotton employs a stark, graphic approach characteristic of his work for the Nabis group and his later printmaking. The composition relies on high-contrast areas of solid black against a neutral, paper-toned background. This reduction of form creates a sense of immediate, almost brutal clarity. The figures are simplified into bold silhouettes, removing unnecessary detail to focus the viewer on the physical action and the power imbalance between the adult and the child. The floorboards and the discarded book provide the only context for the setting, keeping the focus entirely on the interaction. As a contributor to the radical press in Paris, Vallotton used his technical skill to critique social norms. His prints from this era often feature this same economy of line, which allows for a directness that is both humorous and unsettling. The artist avoids sentimentalising the scene, choosing instead to present the harsh reality of the situation with a detached, observational eye. This print is a clear example of his ability to distill complex social critique into a single, punchy visual statement. The work remains a compelling piece of early twentieth-century graphic art, demonstrating the power of the woodcut and lithographic aesthetic to convey narrative tension through minimal means.