Ségur d'Aguessau
Original title: Ségur d'Aguessau
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many of Daumier's portrait caricatures that concentrate on a single face, this lithograph from 18 February 1850 brings a speaker on a podium into the picture space. The monochrome grey of the caricature of Ségur d'Aguessau draws attention to the sitter's expressive features and posture. The print belongs to Daumier's series of portrait caricatures.
Description
Wide-open eyes and a furrowed brow dominate the man's face, whose features appear strongly stylised and enlarged—a hallmark of Daumier's caricatures. He wears a long-sleeved shirt and checked trousers; his legs are crossed, and his arms are held in front of him. A plain background with a podium or stage frames the figure, and text and date run along the bottom edge.
Context
Made in 1850, during a period of political and social upheaval after the 1848 revolution, the sheet is part of Daumier's satirical portrait series. Ségur d'Aguessau was presumably a public figure whom he presented in this series. The lithograph was published in the magazine Le Charivari, for which Daumier worked regularly.
Impact
The exaggerated facial features and the defensive body language come across as comic and critical at once. Viewers are prompted to think about the person depicted and his social role.
Technique
The drawing was made with greasy chalk on stone, a process known as lithography. The execution in shades of grey heightens the contrasts and the expressive linework. The sheet measures 36.2 x 25.2 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)