Baissez le Rideau, La Farce est Jouée (Bring Down the Curtain; the Farce is Over)
Original title: Baissez le Rideau, La Farce est Jouée (Bring Down the Curtain; the Farce is Over), published in La Caricature no. 201, September 11, 1834
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1834 lithograph presents a stage scene: a clown performs in front, with other figures behind. The print was published in the satirical journal La Caricature under the title 'Baissez le Rideau, La Farce est Jouée'.
Description
A clown in a checkered costume with a prominent ruff dominates the foreground; arms raised, he seems to dance or pose. Behind him a stage opens with a half-closed curtain, where several figures appear, one on a pedestal. On the left, a masked figure in a long white robe sits on a bench smoking a pipe. The French inscription 'Baissez le rideau, la farce est jouée' accompanies the scene. The layout feels animated and remains in shades of gray.
Context
On September 11, 1834, the print appeared as no. 201 in the satirical journal La Caricature. Daumier made the lithograph during a period of political repression after the July Revolution, when press freedom was curtailed. Through caricatures, the journal criticized the government of King Louis-Philippe. Clowns and theatrical metaphors were part of Daumier's typical satirical imagery.
Impact
The dancing clown before the gloomy stage figures creates an ironic contrast that brings out the theatrical symbolism. The clown's lively posture draws the eye and creates tension. The gray tones dampen the apparent cheerfulness and reinforce the serious undertone.
Technique
For the lithograph, the drawing was transferred to a stone and then printed. This process allowed fine lines and shading, characteristic of Daumier's expressive design. The image measures 20 × 27.8 cm; it belongs to a series for the journal.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)