Gertrude, we need to have our cow analyzed, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 1, 1866
Original title: Gertrude, we need to have our cow analyzed, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 1, 1866
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1866 lithograph presents a farmer trying to persuade his wife Gertrude to have their cow examined — he suspects the animal might produce a vaccine. The print appeared on February 1, 1866, in the satirical journal Le Charivari as part of the series 'News of the day'.
Description
Your eye is first caught by the man on the left, in a simple shirt and cap, his outstretched finger pointing the way; on the right stands a woman in a long dress and apron, a bucket on her arm, looking surprised. Behind the two, a cow can be made out, held by an allegorical female figure. The meadow forms the ground of the scene, while the caption along the bottom edge reproduces the dialogue. The layout remains plain and is dominated by the gray tones of the lithograph.
Context
For the satirical newspaper Le Charivari, known for its political and social caricatures, Daumier created the series 'News of the day'. This print takes up the contemporary debate about vaccines and the hope for medical breakthroughs, a topic that was also popular among the general public. It is the second state of two (Delteil), printed on newsprint.
Impact
The exaggerated facial expressions and the absurd notion of analyzing a cow provoke amusement in the viewer. The simple rural life depicted here stands in contrast to the scientific subject, creating an ironic tension.
Technique
The print was produced as a lithograph on newsprint — a process common for mass printing in satirical journals. Fine lines and hatching clearly outline the figures and the scene. The image measures 24.3 × 20.4 cm, the entire sheet 30.6 × 29 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)