Émotions Champêtres, from "Actualités"
Original title: Émotions Champêtres, from "Actualités"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1857, showing two men in the countryside discussing the ripening of grapes. Titled 'Émotions Champêtres', it belongs to the 'Actualités' series and is presented here in the second of two states, printed on newsprint.
Description
On the right, a man bends low to the ground to examine something in the grass, while his companion on the left stands upright and looks over at him. Both wear simple clothes with waistcoat, shirt and cap. Trees and bushes fill the rear area, and the ground is covered with grass and plants. An accompanying text adds a comic touch with a mocking remark about the grapes' ripeness.
Context
This print was made for the satirical journal 'Le Charivari', where the 'Actualités' series appeared in 1857. It is dated 10 September 1857. Daumier's interest in social and everyday scenes comes through clearly. Two states of the lithograph exist; this second one belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Impact
At first the eye catches the bent posture of the man on the right, then moves to the upright companion, whose gaze holds the connection between them. The spare line and strong light-dark contrasts of the lithograph emphasize gestures and exchange. The result is a calm yet pointed mood, given a humorous, reflective tone by the ironic caption.
Technique
The image was printed as a lithograph on newsprint, a process Daumier often used for his satirical prints. He applied lithographic chalk to the stone, from which the drawing was transferred to paper; fine lines and shading were created in the process. The sheet measures 25 × 36.9 cm, the image area 20.3 × 26 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)