Ils ont peur de l'eau..., from Actualités, published in Le Charivari, May 11, 1859
Original title: Ils ont peur de l'eau..., from Actualités, published in Le Charivari, May 11, 1859
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'Sie haben Angst vor dem Wasser...' appeared on May 11, 1859, in the journal Le Charivari as part of the 'Actualités' series. The print presents a crowd of people rushing through a body of water with rifles and military gear, evidently shrinking back from the water.
Description
A lively arrangement of several figures in 19th-century uniforms bustles in a stretch of water, some armed with rifles. Their posture suggests hesitation or a hasty flight from the water. Black-and-white tones arise from lines and hatching that create contrasts between the bodies and the background. The caricatural style, with exaggerated faces, brings a humorous note.
Context
Daumier drew this lithograph for the satirical paper Le Charivari, where it was published on May 11, 1859, in the 'Actualités' series. The work is considered the first state of two (according to Hazard & Delteil). The motif of soldiers in water likely alludes to a current event or social debate that Daumier regularly took up in his caricatures.
Impact
The exaggerated poses and faces produce a comic effect that invites a smile. At the same time, the dynamic layout conveys a sense of hectic confusion that reinforces the satirical intent.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint: in this process, one draws with greasy chalk on a stone and then prints. The tonal values emerge from the guidance of the lines and the pressure of the chalk, producing the typical, high-contrast black-and-white effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)