Viens donc..., mon ami, je ne trouve pas ce tableau joli, from L'Exposition de 1859
Original title: Viens donc..., mon ami, je ne trouve pas ce tableau joli, from L'Exposition de 1859, published in Le Charivari, June 21, 1859
kurzbeschreibung
Several people have gathered at a door. In the foreground, a man in a top hat and suit reads from a book, while two more figures are visible behind the door. Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, published on June 21, 1859, in the journal Le Charivari as part of the series L'Exposition de 1859.
Description
An elegant gentleman in a top hat dominates the foreground, absorbed in a book, his gaze directed toward a door. Through a window in the door, an older person peers out, while a child clings to the door. The figures' clothing is typical of the 19th century. The arrangement feels lively and emphasizes the interaction among the people. The image remains in black and white, as is usual for lithographs of this period, with text elements added along the lower margin.
Context
Daumier produced this print in connection with the 1859 Paris Salon, which he covered in a series for the satirical journal Le Charivari. He often poked fun at the art world of his time and at how audiences behaved at exhibitions. Here the focus is on how visitors take in artworks, frequently with incomprehension or preconceived notions. The series L'Exposition de 1859 appeared while the Salon ran from May to June.
Impact
The close observation of everyday life and the gentle social critique elicit a smile from the viewer. The reading man and the curious people behind the door create a comic tension. Daumier's line remains lively and gives the scene an immediate, almost caricature-like presence.
Technique
The print was made as a lithograph: drawn with greasy chalk on a stone, then printed. This is the second state (Delteil), indicating that the printing plate was reworked. The dimensions are 27 × 35.9 cm for the sheet and 21 × 26.6 cm for the image area—common formats for satirical single prints.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)