← Honoré Daumier

A goddess, but not proud at all, from 'Theater sketches,' published in Le Charivari, June 12, 1865

Original title: A goddess, but not proud at all, from 'Theater sketches,' published in Le Charivari, June 12, 1865

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

June 12, 1865

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 5/8 × 8 1/8 in. (24.4 × 20.7 cm) Sheet: 11 5/8 × 10 5/8 in. (29.5 × 27 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's 1865 lithograph presents a theater scene: a man in uniform holds the arm of a woman wearing a flower wreath. The print belongs to the series 'Croquis pris au théâtre' and appeared on June 12, 1865, in 'Le Charivari'. This is the second state of two (Delteil).

Description

In the foreground, a uniformed man with a helmet, long coat, and bag holds the hand of a woman with a flower wreath in her hair. Her gaze is questioning, her posture seemingly irritated. Parts of the theater auditorium with audience and stage are suggested in the background. The arrangement is lively and focuses on the encounter between the two. Hatching models light and shadow, giving the print a sense of volume. The style is realistic, yet caricatural traits—such as the woman's exaggerated gesture—stand out.

Context

Daumier created this lithograph for the series 'Theater sketches' in the satirical magazine 'Le Charivari'. The series targeted Parisian theater life and social types of the time. The print appeared on June 12, 1865, and ranks among Daumier's later lithographic works. The pairing of the uniformed man with the woman points to gender roles of the era and to military presence in public space.

Impact

Tension arises between the stiff demeanor of the uniformed man and the woman's irritated reaction. The caricatural exaggeration of gesture gives the scene an ironic tone. Thanks to the hatching technique, the print feels lively and sketch-like, underscoring the theater context.

Technique

Daumier used lithography on newsprint, as was common for caricatures in satirical journals. The print exists in the second state of two (Delteil). Fine hatching serves to model light and shadow, characteristic of Daumier's printmaking of this period.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)