Le Charivari, March 16, 1854–December 31, 1857
Original title: Le Charivari, March 16, 1854–December 31, 1857
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1854 to 1857 stages a satirical encounter between a woman and a man. The sheet belongs to the 'Actualités' series and pokes fun, with a mocking undertone, at the fashion of the day.
Description
A woman sits on a chair, her dress billowing out into a wide skirt, a blouse with a scarf or bow covering her upper body; her face betrays mild annoyance. A man in a dark suit and top hat steps up beside her, holds a long box, and touches or presses against her, which sets off her irritation. The layout feels asymmetrical, the setting stays bare, and the rendering is black-and-white and monochrome. Even light falls across the scene, with no visible shadows.
Context
Daumier drew this lithograph for the French satirical magazine 'Le Charivari', where he regularly took up social and political subjects. The 'Actualités' series dealt with current events and trends, and the artist often ridiculed the fashions of his time. The humorous caption alludes to the use of steel underwear for women, a topic under discussion back then.
Impact
Clean lines and the direct view of how the two figures interact give the sheet an immediate, pointed effect. Exaggerated postures and facial expressions heighten the satirical appeal and invite a smile.
Technique
In lithography, a greasy chalk is drawn on the stone and the image is then printed. Fine linear structures and detailed shading are characteristic of this process. The dimensions of 36.5 × 25.4 × 1.6 cm suggest a single sheet that appeared in the magazine.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)