Réunion de savants se proposant..., from Les Hippophages
Original title: Réunion de savants se proposant..., from Les Hippophages, published in Le Charivari, October 23, 1856
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph on 23 October 1856, and it appeared in the magazine Le Charivari. It pictures a gathering of six gentlemen in formal dress seated at a laid table, deep in animated conversation. A sign reading 'LES HIPPOPHAGES' hangs behind them.
Description
Six men in suits have taken their places around a table set with several plates of food. They sit in a row across the image, their faces exaggerated in ways that suggest a heated discussion. A large sign lettered 'LES HIPPOPHAGES' is visible behind them. The layout reads clearly and evenly, and the light falls without any noticeable shadow, as is typical of lithography.
Context
Daumier drew this sheet for the satirical paper Le Charivari, where he regularly took aim at political and social matters. The title 'Les Hippophages' refers to a group of horse-meat eaters, a subject much debated in France at the time. Showing scholars at the table pokes fun at bourgeois society and its eating habits.
Impact
The exaggerated expressions and the absurd situation give the caricature a humorous and at the same time critical edge. Even lighting and clear linework create a calm yet lively atmosphere that brings a smile to the viewer.
Technique
Lithography: in this printing process a greasy chalk is drawn on stone and then printed. Daumier used the technique to achieve fine lines and shading that capture the faces and the details of the scene precisely. This impression is the second state of two (Delteil).
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)