Come on... don't be such a bourgeois.... at least have a look at this Courbet!, from 'Sketches from the Salon,' published in Le Charivari, June 22, 1865
Original title: Come on... don't be such a bourgeois.... at least have a look at this Courbet!, from 'Sketches from the Salon,' published in Le Charivari, June 22, 1865
kurzbeschreibung
Two figures in a plain room: a plainly dressed character in a wide-brimmed hat gestures wildly while an elegantly dressed person in a top hat holds them by the arm. Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1865 as part of his series 'Croquis pris au Salon', published in Le Charivari.
Description
On the left stands a figure in simple clothing and a broad-brimmed hat, arms flung wide as if insisting on something at length. To the right, a person in a smart suit and top hat holds the other back by the arm, as though they need to be reined in. A wall and a window suggest the room and give it depth. Light falls evenly, with no hard shadows. The caricatural, humorous style is typical of Daumier's satirical work.
Context
The lithograph appeared on 22 June 1865 in the satirical journal Le Charivari as part of the series 'Croquis pris au Salon'. It refers to the Paris Salon of 1865, where Gustave Courbet showed works that offended conservative critics and the bourgeoisie. Daumier's caricature takes aim at bourgeois rejection of Courbet's realism. The print was issued in two states; this is the second.
Impact
The contrast between expansive gesture and restraining hand produces instant comedy. The caricature makes visible the conflict between artistic conviction and bourgeois caution. Its humorous tone makes the critique of the public's taste easy to take in.
Technique
Lithograph on newsprint, second of two states. The drawing follows Daumier's lithographic manner: bold strokes and fine hatching. The print was made for publication in Le Charivari.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)