Un Candidat, plate 48 from "Caricaturana"
Original title: Un Candidat, plate 48 from "Caricaturana"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph "Un Candidat" (plate 48 from "Caricaturana"), dated 18 May 1837, presents three formally dressed gentlemen in a satirical scene. Printed on newsprint, the sheet measures 37.5 × 25.5 cm.
Description
Three men in waistcoats and top hats fill the frame; the one in the middle grips a cane and is held fast by the other two, as though he were struggling. Overdrawn faces and gestures carry the caricature. Behind the figures run lines of text that recall a newspaper page. The layout is symmetrical: figures in front, type behind, light spread evenly throughout.
Context
The print appeared in 1837, during France's July Monarchy, when political caricature flourished. Daumier drew the "Caricaturana" series for the satirical journal "La Caricature," which followed politics and society with a critical eye. The candidate motif points to the electoral practices of the day, often marked by manipulation and absurdity.
Impact
The exaggerated gestures and the man being held back are immediately funny and full of movement. Humorous caricature and contemporary critique play off each other, giving the satire a bite that raises a smile and prompts reflection at once.
Technique
Lithography, a planographic process: the artist draws with greasy chalk on a limestone slab, which is then printed. This sheet survives on newsprint, as was usual for magazine publication. Monochrome printing sharpens the clear lines and shading of the caricature.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)