The artwork titled “Gargantua,” created by Honore Daumier in 1831, is a lithograph that falls under the Realism art movement and the genre of literary painting. It is housed in the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) in Paris, France.
This lithograph depicts a grotesque figure, representative of the giant Gargantua from François Rabelais’ satirical novels, seated on a throne with his mouth wide open, consuming a constant stream of sustenance being delivered by a conveyor-like mechanism. The figure’s oversized, exaggerated form looms over the scene, emphasizing the gluttony and excess it symbolizes. Tiny figures, possibly depicting the French populace, laboriously carry items to feed this gargantuan figure, conveying a sense of exploitation and social commentary on the voracious and insatiable appetite of the ruling elite. The detailed and expressive illustration reflects Daumier’s adeptness in using art to critique contemporary societal issues.
