Saint Sebastian
Original title: Saint Sebastian
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier drew Saint Sebastian in 1849–50 in a dramatic, agitated pose. The sheet is executed in charcoal on wove paper and measures 32.2 x 18.7 cm.
Description
The martyr's figure takes a dynamic, almost combative stance, arms and legs flung wide. A cloth or garment wraps the hips and legs. Behind the figure, other forms or figures are suggested but left less worked out. The sheet stays grey in grey, with varying densities of charcoal stroke building the tones. Light strikes from the front, pulling shadows and contours forward.
Context
This drawing belongs to a period when Daumier was engaging closely with religious subjects, even though he is known above all for his political caricatures. Saint Sebastian, a martyr of early Christianity, may be read here as a response to the social upheavals of the 1848 revolution. Daumier often used charcoal for expressive studies and preparatory work for paintings or lithographs.
Impact
The expressive, restless handling gives off an unusual energy and, at the same time, a human vulnerability. The coarse charcoal strokes and the sketchy incompleteness feel immediate and emotional.
Technique
Charcoal on wove paper — a material that permits quick, expressive strokes. Varying pressure and changing line direction produce the different greys from which depth and movement emerge.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)