The politician's corner, from 'In the pub,' published in Le Charivari, January 5, 1864
Original title: The politician's corner, from 'In the pub,' published in Le Charivari, January 5, 1864
kurzbeschreibung
Four men sit together in a tavern, smoking pipes and deep in conversation. Honoré Daumier drew this scene in 1864 as a lithograph for the satirical newspaper Le Charivari; it belongs to the series 'In der Kneipe'. The print exemplifies 19th-century political caricature in typical fashion.
Description
At a table, four men in suits have settled, pipes in mouth. Glasses and a bottle stand before them, and in the background another person smokes. The figures line up horizontally, emphasizing the conversation. Diffuse light falls from above, bringing out faces and wisps of smoke. The style remains caricatural and humorous.
Context
This lithograph was created for the French satirical magazine Le Charivari, famous for its political and social caricatures. The series 'In der Kneipe' was devoted to social life and political debates in public spaces. During the Second Empire under Napoleon III, when strict press censorship prevailed, caricatures often served as a means of criticism.
Impact
The print immediately engages through the humorous yet precise drawing of the figures. The layout brings conviviality and lively discussion to the fore and draws the viewer into the scene. Thanks to its caricatural traits, the satirical edge remains timeless.
Technique
The lithograph was printed on newsprint, as was customary for mass distribution in magazines. Daumier used lithography to achieve fine lines and shading that render facial expressions and smoke clouds in detail. The print is the second state of two, documented in the Delteil catalogue.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)