Regardez donc un peu oû ils ont niché mon cadre!..., from L'Exposition de 1859, published in Le Charivari, April 20, 1859
Original title: Regardez donc un peu oû ils ont niché mon cadre!..., from L'Exposition de 1859, published in Le Charivari, April 20, 1859
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in April 1859. A crowd fills an exhibition hall, surrounded by paintings and sculptures. At the center, a man in a tall cap gestures animatedly while a woman listens. The print belongs to the series 'L'Exposition de 1859' and appeared in 'Le Charivari'.
Description
Lines and hatching build a room hung with several paintings, flanked by statues. In the foreground, a man in a tall cap raises his hand as if explaining something. A woman beside him listens. Another man nearby also has his hand raised, creating a dynamic exchange of gestures. The figures look in different directions, enlivening the layout. The lithograph is monochrome with even lighting and no strong shadows.
Context
On 20 April 1859, the lithograph appeared in the satirical newspaper 'Le Charivari'. It is part of Daumier's series on the Paris Salon of 1859. The artist often took aim at the art world and its oddities, focusing on exhibition practice and audience reactions. The print is the second state (Delteil) and reflects contemporary debate about how artworks were hung at the Salon.
Impact
Exaggerated gestures and facial expressions give the scene a humorous, caricatural tone. The dynamic arrangement draws the eye to the figures' interaction and their emotional involvement in looking at art. Overall, the print feels lively and satirical without losing the seriousness of its subject.
Technique
Lithography, a planographic process, allowed fine lines and shading. Daumier used it for this print, which was printed in the second state (Delteil). The sheet measures 27.6 × 35.8 cm (sheet) with an image size of 21.6 × 26.3 cm. The method enabled rapid reproduction for publication in newspapers.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)