I never laughed so much as at the funeral of Bourdin's daughter, from "Souvenirs d'Artistes"
Original title: I never laughed so much as at the funeral of Bourdin's daughter, from "Souvenirs d'Artistes"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1862 lithograph belongs to the "Souvenirs d'Artistes" series and gathers a group of men outdoors around a table. The occasion is a funeral, yet the company is laughing — a satirical scene with a comic edge.
Description
Men in tall top hats and coats sit and stand around a table in a park-like setting, talking; some hold glasses, suggesting a drinking session. Trees and a cloudy sky fill the background. The figures are drawn in detail, with faces and gestures standing out. The layout is symmetrical, the figures spread to either side of the table, and the light falls evenly.
Context
The lithograph was made in 1862 as part of Daumier's "Souvenirs d'Artistes" series, which turned a satirical eye on artists and their circles. The title points to a macabre event that here becomes the occasion for boisterous laughter — a sign of Daumier's critical view of the society of his day. In this period he worked regularly for satirical journals and took up social and political subjects.
Impact
Despite the detailed figures and symmetrical arrangement, the print feels calm and at the same time ironic. The contrast between the serious occasion — a funeral — and the merry company creates a tension-filled comedy. The realistic drawing with caricatural touches invites a wry smile at the absurdity of the moment.
Technique
The work is a lithograph in the third of three states, as documented by Delteil. This printing process allows fine lines and shading, visible in the detailed rendering of the figures and the background. The image stays in black and white, typical of Daumier's prints, with even light distribution and no strong contrasts.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)