A Bercy: Nous faisons ... ce que nous pouvons ...

This lithograph shows two workers in a dark cellar, one pouring from a jug, the other leaning on a barrel.

This lithograph shows two workers in a dark cellar, one pouring from a jug, the other leaning on a barrel. The scene feels real because Daumier used quick, rough lines to capture movement and grit. You can almost hear the clink of bottles and smell the damp wood.

Daumier often drew laborers and their tough lives. This print, made in 1856, shows his knack for turning small moments into sharp social observations.

See how he layers ink to build shadows? That’s lithography—printing with greasy crayons on stone.