This image is a satirical lithograph by Honoré Daumier featuring Ratapoil, a recurring character in Daumier's work, who represents the cynical and manipulative supporters of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. The caption reads: "RATAPOIL FESANT DE LA PROPAGANDE" ("Ratapoil making propaganda"). The text below it translates to: "If you love your wife, your house, your field, your heifer [young female cow], and your calf, sign, you don’t have a minute to lose!" In this context, Ratapoil is seen trying to convince a skeptical, working-class man to take political action, likely under false pretenses or through manipulation.
Created in 1848, this lithograph reflects the political turmoil of the time, following the February Revolution, which led to the establishment of the French Second Republic. The character of Ratapoil symbolizes the unscrupulous agents of Bonapartist propaganda, who exploited the fears and concerns of the common people to advance Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte's political ambitions. Ratapoil is portrayed as a smooth-talking figure using exaggerated promises and fearmongering to push his agenda. This caricature is a critique of the manipulative tactics used by political operatives who sought to manipulate the public for personal or political gain during this volatile period in French history.
(Unsourced Analysis and Partially Self-Analysed, although facts have been cross-checked with archives).
