← Honoré Daumier

Just imagine my good fellow.... if they knew how we make their cheese, they surely wouldn't hurry so much, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, December 30, 1865

Original title: Just imagine my good fellow.... if they knew how we make their cheese, they surely wouldn't hurry so much, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, December 30, 1865

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

December 30, 1865

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 11/16 × 8 5/8 in. (24.6 × 21.9 cm) Sheet: 11 9/16 × 11 5/16 in. (29.3 × 28.7 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1865 for the Parisian satirical journal Le Charivari. It shows a man in a top hat and a woman standing before an exhibition building labeled 'EXPOSITION FROMAGES VOLAILLES.' The print belongs to the series 'News of the day' and is the second state of two (Delteil). It was printed on newsprint.

Description

In the right foreground, a man in a top hat with a cane and a woman in traditional dress who listens to him. Behind them, in front of a trade-fair building, other figures in contemporary attire have gathered. Above the entrance hangs the sign 'EXPOSITION FROMAGES VOLAILLES.' Below the image runs a French quotation alluding to cheese-making. Black and white, with delicate lines and hatching typical of a lithograph.

Context

The print appeared in Le Charivari on December 30, 1865, for which Daumier regularly drew political and social caricatures. It is part of his series 'News of the day,' which took aim at current events and everyday scenes. Daumier often addressed social ills and the contrast between city and country. How exactly the work was made is not documented; the series was, however, a regular part of his contributions to the journal.

Impact

The humor arises from the contrast between the urban audience and rural production. The caption builds an ironic tension that prompts reflection on hygiene and the origins of food. The clear layout draws attention to the two main figures and the labeled door, so the satirical point lands immediately.

Technique

The print was made as a lithograph on newsprint—a process that allowed quick and inexpensive editions and was typical of Daumier. The second state (according to Delteil) suggests revisions to the plate. The delicate lines and shading reveal Daumier's characteristic draftsmanship, with which he executed his caricatures.

AI-generated description text

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