La Répétition, from "Les Comediens de Société"
Original title: La Répétition, from "Les Comediens de Société"
kurzbeschreibung
On 15 April 1858, Honoré Daumier made this lithograph for his series 'Les Comédiens de Société'. Titled 'La Répétition', it shows a theatrical scene with three figures and is the second state (Delteil). It measures 24.7 × 36.6 cm.
Description
Three actors occupy a stage-like space: in the middle a man speaks with expansive gestures and an outstretched hand; on the right a man listens, holding a book; on the left a woman in a long dress sinks to her knees and lowers her gaze. A chair and a door structure the room. The lithograph stays in greys, with even light and no harsh shadows.
Context
For the satirical journal 'Le Charivari', Daumier devised the series 'Les Comédiens de Société', in which he mocked the bourgeoisie of the Second Empire. This print appeared on 15 April 1858 and belongs to a body of work that presents bourgeois life as a play. The artist was known for his socially critical caricatures, which attacked political and social ills.
Impact
Exaggerated gestures and the symmetrical arrangement make the image feel like a frozen rehearsal. The mix of realism and caricature creates an ironic distance that prompts the viewer to reflect on social roles.
Technique
Daumier used lithography on newsprint, a process that allowed quick and inexpensive prints. The second state (Delteil) suggests reworking of the stone, as was common for the series.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)