Le 14 Juin, from Ces Bons Parisiens, published in Le Charivari, June 15, 1857
Original title: Le 14 Juin, from Ces Bons Parisiens, published in Le Charivari, June 15, 1857
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'Le 14 Juin', made in 1857, shows a couple in bed visibly relieved to have got through the 13th of June. The print belongs to the series 'Ces bons Parisiens' and appeared in 'Le Charivari' on June 15, 1857.
Description
Two figures lie side by side under the covers: on the left, someone in a plain shirt and a pointed cap; on the right, a companion in a head covering and shirt-like garment. Both faces are caricatured into comic masks. Vertical strokes suggest a curtain behind them. A line of French text runs along the bottom edge, giving voice to their relief at having survived the 13th of June.
Context
The lithograph was published in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari', known for its political and social caricatures. Daumier created the series 'Ces bons Parisiens' as a humorous observation of everyday life in Paris. The 13th of June 1857 apparently carried a particular meaning that the figures' remark alludes to; today it can no longer be pinned down with certainty.
Impact
The exaggerated faces and the odd bedroom setting make the sheet funny and invite a smile. Its monochrome palette and clean lines give it a timeless clarity that reinforces the humorous message.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint, preserved in two states, of which this is the second. The medium allowed for fine, drawing-like lines and an even distribution of tone, as the vertical hatching behind the figures makes plain.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)