← Honoré Daumier

Dire que je vais être prochainement exposé...

Original title: Dire que je vais être prochainement exposé..., from L'Exposition de 1859, published in Le Charivari, April 5, 1859

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

April 5, 1859

Medium

Lithograph; second state (Delteil)

Dimensions

Sheet: 10 9/16 × 14 3/16 in. (26.8 × 36.1 cm) Image: 8 5/16 × 9 1/2 in. (21.1 × 24.1 cm)

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1922

kurzbeschreibung

Four people fill an exhibition room in this 1859 lithograph by Honoré Daumier: two adults and a child in the foreground, and a seated figure farther back who studies a bust. The print belongs to Daumier's series 'L'Exposition de 1859', his satirical take on the Paris art exhibition of that year. This impression is the second state (Delteil) and measures 26.8 × 36.1 cm.

Description

A bust at the rear holds the attention of the seated figure, while in front two adults and a child, dressed in the fashion of the day, stand looking in different directions. The arrangement feels asymmetrical, with figures loosely scattered across the sheet. Monochrome tones and even lighting are typical of lithography. Caricatural touches and the caption sharpen the humorous tone.

Context

This print appeared on 5 April 1859 in the satirical newspaper 'Le Charivari'. Daumier contributed it to a series mocking that year's Paris art exhibition, an event where many artists competed for attention. The artist was known for his social satires, which often targeted the art world and its characters. 'L'Exposition de 1859' comprises several lithographs that highlight the oddities of the exhibition system.

Impact

The humorous caption and exaggerated figures quickly provoke amusement. By placing people right in the middle of the exhibition, the image creates an ironic distance from the art scene. Everyday behavior in front of artworks is picked up and made ridiculous, inviting a smile.

Technique

Lithography — a planographic process in which an image is drawn with greasy chalk on a stone. The second state (Delteil) shows reworkings compared with the first, indicating that the plate was revised. This technique allows fine lines and an even distribution of tone, which here serve the satirical effect.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)