On a beau dire..., from Ces Bons Parisiens, published in Le Charivari, September 4, 1857
Original title: On a beau dire..., from Ces Bons Parisiens, published in Le Charivari, September 4, 1857
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'On a beau dire...' is dated September 4, 1857, and appeared in the magazine Le Charivari. The print belongs to the series 'Ces Bons Parisiens' and presents two relaxed figures lounging under a tree.
Description
A broad tree, drawn with sweeping branches, dominates the image. Beneath it, on the left, a figure in a checked shirt and trousers has settled on the ground, while on the right another figure, wrapped in a long dress, leans back against the earth. Further trees and a suggested landscape form the backdrop. The black-and-white caricature has clear outlines.
Context
Le Charivari, the satirical daily, published the series 'Ces Bons Parisiens' in 1857, poking fun at the everyday life of the Parisian population. Daumier was by then an established caricaturist and lithographer. This impression is the second of two states, as recorded in Delteil's catalogue.
Impact
The casual postures and the humorous caption give the sheet a cheerful, ironic tone. Because the drawing is limited to black and white and the lines are clearly drawn, the scene is quickly grasped—a directness characteristic of Daumier's satirical prints.
Technique
The lithograph was printed in black and white on newsprint. It exists in the second of two states, suggesting the plate was reworked. The sheet measures 24.6 × 28.3 cm, the image itself 20.8 × 25.9 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)