On dit qu'on commence déjà à la voir..., from La Comète de 1857, published in Le Charivari, March 7, 1857
Original title: On dit qu'on commence déja a la voir..., from La Comète de 1857, published in Le Charivari, March 7, 1857
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary comet prints that show the celestial body itself, Honoré Daumier's lithograph from the series 'La Comète de 1857' focuses on the human reaction. Published on March 7, 1857, in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari', the print presents three women in historicizing dress staring at an invisible celestial phenomenon in a dark room by candlelight.
Description
Three women in long dark robes and head coverings stand in an interior. The middle one holds a candle and wears a startled expression, while the two on either side seem to watch or reassure her. The layout is symmetrical: the group forms the center, with the flanking figures at the edges. Light falls from the front, emphasizing the faces and the candle. Caricatural features with exaggerated expressions set the humorous tone of the series.
Context
Created for the series 'La Comète de 1857' in the Parisian satirical paper 'Le Charivari', this print takes up the great comet fear of that year, triggered by the approach of Donati's Comet. Daumier thus lampoons the hysteria and superstition of large parts of the population. The publication on March 7, 1857, fell in a period of intense public debate about astronomical events.
Impact
Through the exaggerated facial expressions and the gloomy, candlelit setting, the scene feels both comic and oppressive. Daumier exposes the absurdity of collective comet anxiety with irony, without condemning the figures. Symmetry and subdued light create an almost theatrical mood that heightens the satirical effect.
Technique
The print exists as a lithograph in the second state of two (Delteil). It was printed on paper measuring 36.6 × 25.1 cm, with the image area measuring 21.2 × 20.5 cm. Lithography allows for fine gradations and a precise rendering of light and shadow, which benefits the nocturnal scene.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)