M'sieu le boucher..., j'vous la souhaite bonne et heureuse!, from "Actualités"
Original title: M'sieu le boucher..., j'vous la souhaite bonne et heureuse!, from "Actualités"
kurzbeschreibung
A butcher with a knife and a woman with a bucket — this lithograph by Honoré Daumier, part of the 'Actualités' series, caricatures an everyday scene in 19th-century Paris. The print from January 16, 1858 shows a butcher's shop and highlights the goings-on with a satirical eye.
Description
On the left stands a burly but unhandsome man holding a knife, looking uncomfortable. Opposite him is a woman in an apron and shawl, carrying a bucket, who studies him with a worried expression. Pieces of meat hang in the background, indicating a butcher's shop. French dialogue lines at the bottom reproduce the conversation between the two. The layout focuses entirely on this interaction; the light is evenly distributed without harsh shadows.
Context
This lithograph was made for the satirical magazine 'Le Charivari' as part of the 'Actualités' series, which took aim at current events and social types. The setting is a Parisian butcher's shop, an everyday place at the time. The title ironically alludes to the custom of New Year's greetings, and the January 1858 date fits this context. Daumier was known for his close observation of bourgeois and petit-bourgeois life.
Impact
The contrast between the uncomfortable butcher and the worried customer creates comic tension. The dialogue quoted in the image reinforces the satirical effect and invites a smile. The clear arrangement directs the gaze immediately to the figures' facial expressions and gestures.
Technique
As a lithograph on newsprint, this used a process Daumier often employed for his series in 'Le Charivari'. It is the second of two print states, as catalogued by Delteil. Lithography allowed fine lines and shading, which are used here for the caricatural rendering of faces and bodies.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)