Bono..., bono!... Francé!!!, from "Au Camp de Saint-Maur"
Original title: Bono..., bono!... Francé!!!..., from "Au Camp de Saint-Maur"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1859 lithograph transports the viewer to the camp at Saint-Maur. Part of a series, it exists in the second of four states. A group of figures in a military setting appears, with a gesturing man in the foreground standing out.
Description
Up front, a man in jacket and shirt raises his hand as if to explain something. Beside him stands another figure in traditional dress that suggests a uniform or robe. At the table sits a man with a bottle in hand, while further figures appear behind. The arrangement feels lively and draws the eye to the interplay among the figures. The black-and-white lithograph uses detailed shading that gives volume to bodies and surroundings.
Context
This 1859 lithograph comes from a series published in the French satirical journal 'Le Charivari'. In it, Daumier took up military camp life and caricatured social types of his day. The print is known in the second of four states, indicating that the artist reworked it.
Impact
Exaggerated facial features and the animated layout make the scene seem caricatural and lively. Precise shading lends a certain drama, while the everyday camp situation adds a humorous undertone.
Technique
Daumier used lithography on newsprint, a technique characteristic of his work. This method allowed fine lines and shading, which here serve the detailed portrayal of figures. The print belongs to the second of four states, indicating artistic revision of the plate.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)