Le vin est l'ornament de l'homme...., from En Italie
Original title: Le vin est l'ornament de l'homme...., from En Italie, published in Le Charivari, August 9, 1859
kurzbeschreibung
On 9 August 1859 this lithograph by Honoré Daumier appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari. It belongs to the series 'En Italie' and presents two men in a plain café, talking over a glass of wine.
Description
Two figures dominate the image. On the left a man in a hooded jacket and cap stands with his glass in hand, a faintly mocking smile on his face; on the right a man with shoulder tabs sits holding his own glass, listening at ease. A wall hung with curtains closes off the rear, and a bottle of dark liquid stands on the table. The whole view stays black and white, with light falling from the front sharpening the outlines. The arrangement keeps the exchange between the two at its heart.
Context
Daumier drew this sheet for the series 'En Italie', which ran in Le Charivari. The series took up Italian stereotypes and everyday scenes with wit. This is the second of four printed states, showing that the artist reworked the stone more than once.
Impact
Exaggerated expressions and the casual posture of both figures give the caricature its humour and liveliness. The plain layout draws the eye to how the men get on together and lets an easy, sociable mood come through.
Technique
Lithography is a planographic process in which a grease crayon is drawn on a stone. Daumier used it because it allowed quick prints rich in detail. The sheet exists in four states; the second points to later corrections or additions.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)