LES ACTIONNAIRES DU GREAT-EASTERN...., from En Italie, published in Le Charivari, November 21, 1859
Original title: LES ACTIONNAIRES DU GREAT-EASTERN...., from En Italie, published in Le Charivari, November 21, 1859
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many of Daumier's prints that focus on a single type, this lithograph from 21 November 1859 presents two men in an office occupied with stock affairs. It belongs to the series 'En Italie' and appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari. This is a lithograph in the second state, with an image size of 21.3 × 26.7 cm on a sheet of 29.7 × 29.4 cm.
Description
Two gentlemen in suits and hats stand in an office or bank. The one on the left holds a document and reads it; the right one leans on a table, looking pensive. A sign reading 'BUREAUX ET CAISSE' indicates a business office. The black-and-white of the lithograph is typical of the period. The layout is clear and draws attention to the faces and actions of the figures.
Context
Daumier made this lithograph for the French satirical journal Le Charivari, where it appeared on 21 November 1859. The Great Eastern was a British passenger ship built in the 1850s that caused a stir through financing scandals. The series 'En Italie' commented on contemporary social and political topics. Daumier was known for his caricatural portrayals of the bourgeoisie and the financial world of the 19th century.
Impact
The caricatural exaggeration of the figures and the humorous view of the financial world define the print. The men's thoughtful faces create an ironic tension between seriousness and absurdity. The clear arrangement directs the gaze to the interaction of the figures and their surroundings.
Technique
For this print Daumier used lithography, a planographic process in which a greasy crayon is drawn on stone. It is the second state of the print, as documented by Delteil and Hazard & Delteil. The black-and-white execution is characteristic of Daumier's printmaking, which he produced for mass publications such as Le Charivari.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)