You seem to enjoy doing my work. In exchange I could offer doing your job: I will go for a ride in your coach!, from "Parisians in the countryside"
Original title: You seem to enjoy doing my work. In exchange I could offer doing your job: I will go for a ride in your coach!, from "Parisians in the countryside"
kurzbeschreibung
This lithograph from 1865 belongs to Honoré Daumier's series 'Pariser auf dem Lande' (Parisians in the Country). It depicts two men in a rural setting engaged in conversation. Two states of the print exist; this is the second.
Description
Two figures stand on a field path lined with trees and bushes. On the left, a man in a cap, shirt and waistcoat, his hands thrust into his shirt pockets. On the right, another capped and shirted man, wearing a jacket and carrying a spade. Behind them, more trees and a fence; the ground is covered with fallen leaves. A French inscription below the figures forms part of the print's title.
Context
Daumier created the series 'Pariser auf dem Lande' for the satirical journal 'Le Charivari', where this print appeared in 1865. In it he lampooned the leisure habits of the bourgeoisie and the encounter between city dwellers and country people. The series revolves around social contrasts and the difficulties of communication between Paris and the countryside in the 19th century.
Impact
Clear lines and a realistic rendering of the figures give the print an immediate vividness. Postures and simple clothing sharply underline the difference between the urban visitor and the rural worker, thus carrying the satirical intent.
Technique
The print was made as a lithograph on newsprint, a common medium for Daumier's caricatures. The present impression is the second of two states, suggesting that the plate was reworked. The process allows delicate gradations of shading and a precise description of the rural setting.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)