De St. Priest
Original title: De St. Priest
kurzbeschreibung
This lithograph from August 1849 by Honoré Daumier presents a French politician as an exaggerated caricature, with an oversized head and sweeping gestures. The print belongs to Daumier's series 'Les représentans représentés'.
Description
A man with a conspicuously oversized head and pronounced features peers through spectacles; dressed in jacket and trousers, he holds a second pair of glasses in his hand. Behind him, several men in suits converse. At the top appear the words 'LES REPRESENTANS REPRESENTES' and 'ASSEMBLEE LEGISLATIVE', while along the bottom edge runs the name 'DE S' PRIEST' together with a text about postal reform.
Context
During the years of the Second French Republic, Daumier targeted the deputies of the National Assembly in his series 'Les représentans représentés'. This print, dated 18 August 1849, appeared in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari', where the lithograph served as a means of political criticism.
Impact
The exaggerated facial features and comic posture immediately provoke laughter. At the same time, the print exposes the politicians' self-presentation and prompts reflection on popular representation.
Technique
Daumier worked here in lithography, in which a drawing is applied to the stone with greasy chalk. This process allows fine lines and gradations of shading, which he used for expressive faces and dynamic compositions.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)