Votre maison me fait l'effet de devoir être d'un bon produit, from "Locataires et Propriétaires"
Original title: Votre maison me fait l'effet de devoir..., from "Locataires et Propriétaires"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1836 for his series 'Locataires et Propriétaires'. It places two men before a crumbling city wall, drawing attention to the wretched housing conditions in Paris at the time.
Description
Two gentlemen in suits and hats stand in the foreground; the one on the left holds a cigar. Behind them rises a damaged city wall, where a figure is carrying out repairs. The accompanying text alludes to mushrooms being grown in the cellars—a hint at the building's dilapidated state.
Context
The series 'Locataires et Propriétaires' appeared in 1836 in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari'. In it, Daumier attacked the excesses of the Paris property market and the indifference of landlords toward their tenants. The lithograph belongs to an era when industrialization brought housing shortages and speculative building.
Impact
The layout, with its conspicuous wall and the figures set against it, directs the eye to the absurdity of the statement. The satirical effect rests on the contrast between the decaying building and the landlord's cynical remark.
Technique
Lithography, a common printing method of the period, allowed fast and inexpensive editions; Daumier used it for this print. The drawing remains in black and white and employs fine linework that precisely captures both the texture of the wall and the expressions of the figures.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)