Dismayed with her legacy
Original title: Dismayed with her legacy, published in "L'Album du Siège"
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary caricatures that loudly and directly condemn the war, Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'Bestürzt über ihr Erbe' of 1871 adopts a quiet, inward-looking tone. The print belongs to the series 'L'Album du Siège' and is presented here in the third and final state; it was printed on wove paper.
Description
A female figure stands upright, wrapped in a long, loose robe, her back to the viewer. Her hands are crossed over her chest, her gaze directed upward. Around her opens a flat landscape with scattered rocks, all rendered in graduated shades of gray. Even light from above emphasizes the outline of the figure. The layout feels clear and centrally aligned, the contours sharp, the textures rich in detail.
Context
The print was made in 1871, during the siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War. Daumier included it in the collection 'L'Album du Siège', which addressed the events of that time. The lithograph reflects the mood of the day, shaped by loss and uncertainty.
Impact
Grief and contemplation hang over this scene. The restrained coloration and the single, central figure create a calm yet insistent atmosphere. The viewer is drawn into the figure's emotional state.
Technique
Executed as a lithograph on wove paper, the work exists in three states; this is the third. The printing technique allows for fine gradations and precise lines, used here to render figure and landscape in detail.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)