Rappelés avec enthousiasme!.., from Les Comédiens de Société, published in "Le Charivari"
Original title: Rappelés avec enthousiasme!.., from Les Comédiens de Société, published in "Le Charivari"
kurzbeschreibung
Dated 1 May 1858, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari as part of the series Les Comédiens de Société. The print presents a theatrical scene: a woman in the middle holds forth to those gathered at a table, while the audience behind reacts.
Description
Several figures are seated around a table; a woman sits upright in the middle, evidently addressing the others. A man beside her listens. Behind this group, the audience appears in varied poses—some laugh or clap. Candles on the table and cast shadows suggest subdued lighting. The black-and-white lithograph employs sharp, detailed strokes, exaggerated facial expressions, and a lively arrangement.
Context
For the series Les Comédiens de Société, published in the French satirical journal Le Charivari, Daumier made this lithograph. The series examined social role-playing and hypocrisy among the bourgeoisie of the Second Empire. With its date of 1 May 1858, the print falls in Daumier's mature period, when he regularly drew political and social caricatures for periodicals.
Impact
The realistic portrayal with caricatural touches gives the sheet an immediate liveliness. The dynamic layout and overdone expressions create an ironic, satirical mood that prompts a smile.
Technique
As a lithograph, the work belongs to planographic printing, in which a design is drawn on stone with greasy chalk. This is the second state of two known states (Delteil). Precise, sharp lines and graduated shading demonstrate Daumier's skill in this technique.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)