At the Seaside (September 9, 1859)
Original title:
kurzbeschreibung
Two figures stand on a rocky shore in Honoré Daumier's lithograph Am Strand, dated September 9, 1859. This black-and-white print is the second of two known states.
Description
On the left, a woman in a long, flowing dress and a large hat looks toward the right; beside her, a man in shirt and trousers also faces right. Both stand on rocky ground that opens toward the sea. Water and horizon close the space. The arrangement stays plain and clear, with the figures as the focal point.
Context
In 1859 Daumier was working regularly for satirical and socially critical journals. This lithograph belongs to his series of beach and bathing scenes, in which he mocked the leisure habits of the urban bourgeoisie. The date September 9, 1859 points to publication in a magazine.
Impact
A stripped-down layout and even light give the scene a quiet, observant tone. The figures stand apart from each other, conveying a mild irony and ordinariness without slipping into caricature.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint, printed in the second of two known states. The process allows fine lines and a smooth range of grays, as seen in this black-and-white reproduction.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)