Patrouille chinoise en reçonnaissance, from En Chine, published in Le Charivari, November 7, 1859
Original title: Patrouille chinoise en reçonnaissance, from En Chine, published in Le Charivari, November 7, 1859
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, Chinesische Patrouille auf Erkundung, in 1859. It presents a military patrol at night and was published on 7 November 1859 in the journal Le Charivari. The print is the second of three states.
Description
Five figures in traditional dress and headgear move in a line toward the right through a dark street. A torchbearer leads; the others carry lanterns whose glow lifts the contours of the figures from the darkness. The garments show folds and shading that convey movement. The faces are exaggerated into caricature, giving the sheet a comic edge.
Context
Daumier placed this lithograph in the satirical newspaper Le Charivari, known for political and social caricature. It appeared during the Second Opium War (1856–1860), when British and French troops fought against China. With this motif, Daumier took up contemporary European reporting on China and commented on it.
Impact
Bright lanterns and torches stand out sharply against the night surroundings, lending the sheet tension. The exaggerated facial features and the lined-up, moving figures create an ironic, almost grotesque tone. The viewer follows the patrol's procession from left to right, drawn by the light that articulates the scene.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint, a common process for Daumier's satirical prints. The second of three states shows fine shading achieved with the lithographic crayon technique. At 21.6 × 27.3 cm, the format remains compact and tailored to newspaper printing.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)