Cristi!...la belle femme!..., from En Chine, published in Le Charivari, December 25, 1858
Original title: Cristi!...la belle femme!..., from En Chine, published in Le Charivari, December 25, 1858
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph Cristi!... die schöne Frau!... from 25 December 1858 shows a woman in Chinese costume casting a glance into a mirror. The print belongs to the series En Chine and appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari; it is the second of two states (Delteil).
Description
On the left, a woman stands examining herself in a mirror. Her face is distorted and caricaturishly exaggerated, her hairstyle elaborate to the point of absurdity, suggesting displeasure or despair. She wears a stylized, overblown Chinese garment. In the mirror her countenance appears with equally distorted features and looks far from flattering. The layout is unbalanced: the mirror sits at the center, the woman just to its left, and she draws the eye.
Context
The print was made in 1858, a period when France under Napoleon III was expanding its influence in East Asia and interest in China was growing. Daumier published the En Chine series in Le Charivari, a journal known for its political and social caricatures. The combination of grotesque features and Chinese dress draws on the European clichés about China that were common in caricature at the time.
Impact
The exaggeration of the facial features and the self-critical reflection evoke both comedy and a certain unease. The asymmetry of the arrangement directs the gaze to the woman and her mirror image, highlighting the gap between self-perception and outward appearance. Despite the satirical distortion, the lithograph feels lively thanks to its delicate lines and shading.
Technique
The print was made as a lithograph on newsprint, drawn with greasy chalk on a stone and then pulled. This process allows the delicate lines and shading that are clearly visible in the caricature. The image measures roughly 21.9 × 25.1 cm, relatively small, as was usual for satirical prints in journals.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)