Je viens prévenir le roi Agamemnon qu'on va commencer le 4e acte..., from Croquis Dramatiques, published in Le Charivari, November 27, 1856
Original title: Je viens prévenir le roi Agamemnon qu'on va commencer le 4e acte..., from Croquis Dramatiques, published in Le Charivari, November 27, 1856
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1856, presenting a comic theatrical scene. Three figures occupy a sparsely furnished room, one of them just making an announcement. The print belongs to the 'Croquis Dramatiques' series and was published in the journal 'Le Charivari'.
Description
A plain interior holds three figures: two sit at a table absorbed in a game, while a third enters from outside and proclaims something. The person seated on the left turns around, a sheet of paper in hand, and the other looks toward it. The newcomer wears simple clothes and also holds a paper. A mirror, a picture frame and a curtain divide the room. The rendering is in black and white.
Context
The lithograph appeared on 27 November 1856 in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari'. It is part of Daumier's series 'Croquis Dramatiques', which takes aim at theater and opera scenes. The artist was known for his caricatures, with which he critically followed Parisian social life. At that time opera and theater held a central place in the city's cultural life.
Impact
Exaggerated gestures and the absurd situation give the caricature a humorous touch. By placing the ancient name Agamemnon in an everyday context, a comic tension arises. The print invites a smile at the contrast between high art and banal reality.
Technique
Daumier used lithography, drawing with greasy chalk on a stone. This is the second state of two (Delteil). The process allows fine lines and a clear rendering of caricatural details. The sheet measures 24.7 × 33.9 cm, the image itself 19.7 × 24.3 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)