← Honoré Daumier

Le Réveil de l'Italie, from Actualités, published in "Le Charivari"

Original title: Le Réveil de l'Italie, from Actualités, published in "Le Charivari"

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

May 7, 1859

Medium

Lithograph; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 8 15/16 × 11 1/4 in. (22.7 × 28.6 cm) Sheet: 10 1/2 × 13 3/4 in. (26.7 × 34.9 cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Grace M. Pugh, 1985

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'Das Erwachen Italiens' (The Awakening of Italy), published in 1859 in the satirical journal Le Charivari, depicts an oversized bearded man personifying Italy. Waking from sleep, he sets a crowd of people in motion.

Description

A giant bearded man lies on his back, just now propping himself up; he wears a hat and jacket, his legs raised, emphasizing the effort of rising. Numerous smaller figures scatter in all directions behind him, suggesting the unrest that his awakening triggers. The layout is dynamic and focuses on the central figure, while the surroundings teem with fleeing people. Monochrome and evenly lit, the print has a caricatural, satirical style.

Context

Published on May 7, 1859, in the French satirical journal Le Charivari, Daumier's lithograph responded to political events in Italy. There, on the eve of the Sardinian War, national unification movements were forming against Austrian rule. The print belongs to the series 'Actualités', in which Daumier commented on current politics. It was made as Napoleon III and the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont prepared an alliance against Austria, which gave impetus to the Italian national movement.

Impact

The oversized figure of Italy appears monumental, underscoring the significance of the historical moment. The hectic movement of the small figures contrasts with the calm but determined posture of the main figure, creating a mixture of departure and unease. The satirical exaggeration comments on the political situation ironically without losing its seriousness.

Technique

Lithography, a printing process then widely used for caricatures, allowed quick and inexpensive editions. Daumier's drawing relies on a loose, sketchy line that emphasizes the movement and dynamism of the scene; the monochrome execution is typical of the genre. The print is in the second state of two, indicating that the printing plate was reworked.

AI-generated description text

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