Ah, Théophile, what ghastly things I am reading about you
Original title: Ah, Théophile, what ghastly things I am reading about you, from 'These good Parisians,' published in Le Charivari, January 30, 1860
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in January 1860: a woman is absorbed in a book while a man reacts with lively gestures. The print belongs to the series 'Ces bons Parisiens' and is the second of three states.
Description
On the left, a woman sits with an open book in her hands; her gaze is raised, and her posture seems calm. Opposite her stands a man whose hands gesture vehemently and whose expression betrays surprise or shock. The background is sparse, hinting at a flat expanse of water. The arrangement is asymmetrical: the woman occupies the left half, the man the right. At the top appears the title, below it a subtitle that suggests the content of the conversation.
Context
Daumier published the series 'Ces bons Parisiens' in the satirical journal Le Charivari, where he caricatured scenes of daily Parisian life. This print is dated 30 January 1860 and belongs to a group that humorously treated the quirks and oddities of Parisian society. Daumier was regarded as a sharp observer who could capture social types with precision.
Impact
A tension immediately arises between the calmly reading woman and the agitatedly gesturing man. The reduced layout draws attention to facial expressions and gestures and underlines the humorous dialogue. Fine lines and graded gray tones give the print a lively yet timeless presence.
Technique
Lithograph on newsprint—a process characteristic of Daumier that allowed quick and inexpensive editions. Precise lines and nuanced shading testify to mastery of lithographic technique. This impression corresponds to the second of three states, as recorded by Delteil.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)