There's no denying it's me!..., from 'The public at the exhibition,' published in Le Petit Journal pour Rire, June 18, 1864
Original title: There's no denying it's me!..., from 'The public at the exhibition,' published in Le Petit Journal pour Rire, June 18, 1864
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier turns his satirical eye on the goings-on at an art exhibition in this 1864 lithograph, part of his series 'Le Public à l'Exposition', which appeared in 'Le Petit Journal pour Rire' on 18 June 1864. Several figures crowd the print, among them a woman in an apron carrying a bowl and a bespectacled man, both standing before a bust.
Description
A woman in an apron, bowl in hand, takes up much of the foreground; beside her a man in glasses watches what is going on. Further back, other exhibition visitors are only hinted at. A bust stands at the left, probably a portrait of some well-known figure. The black-and-white lithograph is lit evenly, with no shadows to speak of. Exaggerated faces and a comically awkward grouping of the figures give the caricature its bite.
Context
The satirical magazine 'Le Petit Journal pour Rire' published this lithograph on 18 June 1864. Daumier devised the series 'Le Public à l'Exposition' to poke fun at how audiences behaved in art exhibitions. These prints take part in the debates of the day about access to art and the visitor's role in public shows.
Impact
Overdrawn expressions and the odd way the figures are clustered together make a funny, lasting impression. The image keeps an ironic distance from the exhibition business and invites reflection on the relationship between viewer and artwork.
Technique
Lithograph on newsprint, third state of three (Delteil). The lithographic process allows for delicate lines and gradations, which here serve the caricature. The sheet measures 44.3 × 30.7 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)