Unbelievable.. we are Parisians now too!
Original title: Unbelievable.. we are Parisians now too!, from 'News of the Day,' published in Le Chiavari, January 23, 1860
kurzbeschreibung
In this 1860 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, two people from the countryside react with incredulous astonishment to the news that they now belong to Paris. The print comes from the series 'News of the Day' and was published in the journal Le Chiavari; it is in black and white.
Description
Two figures in peasant dress dominate the foreground: the one on the left wears a head covering, while the one on the right holds a child in her arms. Behind them stands a simple hut with a window-like opening, and vessels can be seen on the ground. Buildings and a suggested landscape indicate the surroundings. The people are placed centrally, the background remains sketchy, and the light appears even. The caricatural features come through in the faces and clothing.
Context
Daumier drew the lithograph for the satirical Parisian journal Le Chiavari. The title refers to the annexation of suburbs by Paris in 1860, which turned many rural inhabitants into Parisians. Daumier often addressed the social and political upheavals of his time with an ironic undertone.
Impact
The incredulous expressions and the plain design make the scene both comic and thought-provoking. The contrast between the rural setting and urban change creates an ironic tension that invites a smile.
Technique
The print was executed as a lithograph on newsprint, a process Daumier often used because it allowed quick and inexpensive prints. Clear lines and the monochrome palette are typical of nineteenth-century lithography.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)