En Italie, from "Nos Troupiers"
Original title: En Italie, from "Nos Troupiers"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, titled 'En Italie', in July 1859. It is the third state of four and belongs to the series 'Nos Troupiers'. The black-and-white print on newsprint shows two soldiers talking while they eat.
Description
On the left, a soldier sits on a chair, holding a bowl and lifting a spoon to his mouth; on the right, a second soldier kneels, also with a bowl and spoon. A table with two bowls and two loaves of bread separates them. A tree with branches and leaves and a mountainous landscape fill the background. Across the bottom, a text panel reading 'EN ITALIE' and a note about food runs through the image.
Context
Daumier created this lithograph in July 1859 for 'Nos Troupiers', a series in which he satirically followed the daily life of French soldiers. The series appeared in the journal 'Le Charivari', for which the artist worked regularly. The subject refers to France's Italian campaign against Austria in 1859 and places the soldiers in an everyday, hardly heroic situation.
Impact
The relaxed posture of the eaters and the simple action give the print an immediate, humorous note. Daumier's line stays precise and expressive, so the figures feel alive. An ironic distance from military pathos is palpable.
Technique
For this print Daumier used lithography on newsprint, a common process for his satirical prints. Fine hatching and clear contours stand out in the print, tracing figures and landscape in detail. Careful reworking of the stone marks the third of four states.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)