Ce qui nous prouve comme quoi il est... inutile..., from Croquis Dramatiques, published in Le Charivari, May 23, 1857 (May 23, 1857, Met-Objekt 3058)
Original title: Ce qui nous prouve comme quoi il est... inutile..., from Croquis Dramatiques, published in Le Charivari, May 23, 1857
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'Was uns beweist, wie unnütz es ist...' dates from May 23, 1857, and appeared in the journal 'Le Charivari' as part of the 'Croquis Dramatiques' series. The print presents a crowd of people indoors, likely in a theater or at an event, all dressed in the clothing of their time.
Description
In the foreground, several people sit on benches, while behind them other figures converse or watch attentively. The realistic style blends with caricatural features; faces and garments are carefully worked out. Shades of gray dominate the image, and the light is evenly distributed, as was typical for prints of that era. The arrangement of the figures brings movement into the scene and allows various activities to be seen side by side.
Context
The 'Croquis Dramatiques' series was published in 'Le Charivari', a satirical newspaper for which Daumier worked regularly. The date May 23, 1857, falls in a period when he was observing Parisian theater and social life with a critical eye. Within the series, this print is devoted to dramatic and theatrical everyday scenes.
Impact
The viewer is immediately drawn into the lively bustle: the mixture of realism and caricature gives the scene an ironic note that invites a smile. The detailed figures and the animated layout create closeness to the depicted event and allow the different activities to be experienced directly.
Technique
Executed as a lithograph in the second state of two (Delteil), the print exploits the possibilities of this process for fine lines and shading. This is evident in the precise facial features and the clothing of the figures.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)