Shwell... this is what I call a shplendid job.... and for shust five chous per pound!..., from 'Sketches from the Salon,' published in Le Charivari, June 7, 1865
Original title: Shwell... this is what I call a shplendid job.... and for shust five chous per pound!..., from 'Sketches from the Salon,' published in Le Charivari, June 7, 1865
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1865 brings two men face to face with an industrial container labeled "VERONGETOWN." The print belongs to the series "Sketches from the Salon" and exists in the second of two states. The idea pokes fun at a cheerful encounter in the orbit of the Salon.
Description
Two gentlemen in suits and hats stand before a large round vessel that resembles a steam boiler and bears the inscription "VERONGETOWN." One of them makes a hand gesture as if to shake something while they converse. Behind them, other figures can be made out, including someone with a doll or similar object. The image remains black and white, combining realistic observation with caricatural traits.
Context
The lithograph comes from Daumier's series "Croquis pris au Salon," created for the satirical magazine Le Charivari. It appeared on June 7, 1865, and joins a line of caricatures that took aim at the goings-on at Parisian art exhibitions. Daumier used the medium of lithography to comment critically on the social and artistic questions of his time.
Impact
The tone is humorous and sharp, as is typical of Daumier's satirical eye on contemporary audiences. From the combination of realistic detail and exaggerated gesture arises an ironic distance from what is shown.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint, this impression is in the second state of two. The printing process allows for fine lines and shading, which Daumier exploited for his unmistakable caricatures. Printing on newsprint matched the mass distribution in magazines customary at the time.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)