A friend who was invited to relax for a few days in the countryside, from 'The joys of country life,' published in Le Charivari, September 12, 1865
Original title: A friend who was invited to relax for a few days in the countryside, from 'The joys of country life,' published in Le Charivari, September 12, 1865
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made the lithograph 'A Friend Who Was Invited to Take a Few Days' Rest in the Country,' published on September 12, 1865, in the series 'Les Plaisirs de la Campagne' in the journal Le Charivari. The print presents a lighthearted episode: one guest dozes on a sofa while another rouses him. It was printed in black and white on newsprint.
Description
Two figures animate an interior. A person in a cap and jacket lies relaxed on a sofa, apparently asleep. From the right a second person approaches, wearing a hat and jacket, and seems to be waking the sleeper. Light enters from the right and casts distinct shadows that give the layout contrast. The style is caricatural and cheerful, with clear lines and sparse detail. The view stays monochrome, as befits a lithographic print.
Context
For the satirical newspaper Le Charivari, Daumier devised the series 'Les Plaisirs de la Campagne,' in which he took aim at the supposed pleasures of country life. The lithograph appeared on September 12, 1865, and is the second state of two known prints (Delteil). Daumier often brought the contradiction between idealized idyll and actual experience into focus, frequently with an ironic edge. The series arose at a time when the bourgeoisie was increasingly discovering country life as a leisure pursuit.
Impact
A humorous, almost ironic tone marks the print and stresses the absurdity of a rest in the country. The clear layout and reduced imagery direct the eye immediately to the interaction between the figures and call up an amused, reflective mood. The interplay of light and shadow heightens the drama of the moment.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint, as was usual for publication in a satirical journal. The print exists as the second state of two (Delteil) and reveals Daumier's characteristic stroke, which combines fine and bold lines. The monochrome palette and the use of hatching give the depiction depth and texture.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)