Obviously I resemble him!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, January 29, 1866
Original title: Obviously I resemble him!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, January 29, 1866
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph "Natürlich ähnle ich ihm!" (Of course I resemble him!) from 1866 belongs to the caricature series "News of the day," published in the satirical journal Le Charivari. It shows a woman standing with her back to the viewer before a pedestal topped by a bust of a man; behind it hangs a sign reading "LA PRESSE LETTRES SUR LA REVOLUTION PAR M***."
Description
A woman in a long-sleeved dress, her back turned and hands clasped behind her, dominates the image; her hair is gathered in a bun. Facing her, on a pedestal, rises the bust portrait of a man whose striking hairstyle suggests a wig. A sign inscribed "LA PRESSE LETTRES SUR LA REVOLUTION PAR M***" hangs in the background. Black-and-white tones with subtle gray shadings model the figures and the space. The layout is clear and directs the gaze to the woman and the bust.
Context
On January 29, 1866, the lithograph appeared in the daily newspaper Le Charivari, a platform for political and social satire in nineteenth-century France. Daumier created the series "News of the day" (Actualités) to address current events and social debates. The sign in the background points to a publication about the revolution, thus referring to a contemporary historical or political topic. The print was made in the late phase of Daumier’s career, when he was already known for his incisive caricatures.
Impact
The woman’s rear view and the frontal bust enter into a silent dialogue that sparks curiosity about the relationship between the two figures. The humorous title "Natürlich ähnle ich ihm!" creates an ironic tension between image and text and invites a smile. The reduced gray-scale technique gives the caricature a serious, almost documentary tone that underscores its satirical content.
Technique
For this sheet Daumier used lithography on newsprint, a process that allowed fast and inexpensive editions and was typical of him. It is the second state of two (Delteil), indicating later revisions to the printing plate. The precise lines and shadings demonstrate Daumier’s sure handling of lithographic crayon, with which he modeled faces and clothing exactly.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)