Wretched lettuce... I am spending entire days watering it and it is still thirsty, from "The joys of country life"
Original title: Wretched lettuce... I am spending entire days watering it and it is still thirsty, from "The joys of country life"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1865: a man in rural clothing waters a lettuce in a field with a watering can. The plant looks dry and stunted, and the gardener appears worried and weary. The print belongs to the series 'The Pleasures of Country Life' and was printed in black and white on newsprint.
Description
Honoré Daumier places a man in simple country clothes at the center of this lithograph, pouring water from a watering can over a head of lettuce. The lettuce looks wilted and poor, a sign of drought. The man's face reflects exhaustion and resignation. Trees and fields suggest a rural setting. Clear black lines on light paper define the entire view.
Context
Honoré Daumier published this lithograph as part of the series 'Les Plaisirs de la Campagne', which satirizes country life. It appeared on October 4, 1865, in the French newspaper 'Le Charivari'. Daumier used lithography for social criticism and often focused on the everyday frustrations of the bourgeoisie. The series parodies the romantic idea of an idyllic rural life.
Impact
Honoré Daumier's print evokes mixed feelings: the exaggerated despair over watering is comic, yet it also shows the hardship of farm work. Few lines and the man's apt facial expression make the image immediately accessible. The contrast between the title and the subject underscores the satirical note.
Technique
Honoré Daumier used lithography for this print, printed on newsprint, in the second state of two (Delteil). The process allowed fine lines and shading, which Daumier employed for expressive faces and textures. Printing on newsprint was typical for publication in 'Le Charivari' and gives the sheet a fleeting character.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)