Je voudrais pouvoir me faire promener, from "En Chine"
Original title: Je voudrais pouvoir me faire promener, from "En Chine"
kurzbeschreibung
Four figures in Chinese dress shoulder an oversized statue in this lithograph by Honoré Daumier, made on 22 January 1859 and belonging to the series 'En Chine'. Printed as the second of two states on newsprint, the satire pokes fun at Europe's image of China at the time.
Description
Four bearers in traditional Chinese clothing and headwear together hoist a large, stylised figure. Its head wears a helmet-like top, and compared with the men beneath it, it looks almost monumental. The drawing style is caricatural and cheerful, executed in bold black strokes on a light ground. Lines and rules from the printed newspaper show through behind the group.
Context
The lithograph appeared in January 1859 in the French satirical magazine 'Le Charivari' as part of the series 'En Chine'. It was prompted by growing interest in China during the Second Opium War (1856–1860), in which France and Britain fought against the empire. Daumier, known for his political and social caricatures, here took up the European view of China with an ironic edge.
Impact
The comedy comes above all from the contrast between the heavy statue and the small, eager-looking men carrying it. One smiles at the print but is also prompted to think about the clichés of the period. The clear line and spare layout make the scene quick to grasp.
Technique
The lithograph was printed on thin newsprint, as was usual for satirical supplements in magazines. With chalk lithography, Daumier achieved fine gradations and expressive lines. The existence of a second state suggests revisions from the first and points to careful artistic control.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)