Souvenir du grand festival des orphéonistes
Original title: Souvenir du grand festival des orphéonistes, from Actualités, published in Le Charivari, March 28, 1859
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary choir portraits that evoke harmony, Honoré Daumier's 1859 lithograph opts for comic exaggeration: a crowd of singers holds sheet music and sings with distorted faces. The print belongs to the 'Actualités' series and appeared in the satirical magazine Le Charivari. The caricature targets the participants of the Orphéonist festival with exaggerated faces.
Description
The singing crowd stands close together, sheet music in hand. Daumier shows the singers at different moments of singing, which gives the scene movement. The layout stretches horizontally, with the heads of spectators appearing behind. Shades of gray dominate the monochrome image, the light is evenly distributed without visible shadows. Exaggerated facial features and delicate line work define the caricatural tone.
Context
This lithograph was made for the 'Actualités' series, which appeared regularly in the satirical newspaper Le Charivari. It refers to the festival of the Orphéonists, a popular choir competition in 19th-century France. The print was published on March 28, 1859; it is the second state of two (Delteil). Daumier used the occasion for a humorous commentary on bourgeois musical culture of his time.
Impact
The scene feels lively and humorous thanks to the exaggerated expressions and the tight arrangement of the figures. The lithograph gives the print a detailed yet caricatural quality. The dynamic layout and the expressive faces of the singers engage the viewer directly.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint, a common process for satirical prints in the 19th century, is used here. The dense structure of the drawing and the delicate lines demonstrate Daumier's confident handling of lithography. The print is preserved in the second state of two (Delteil).
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)