Entrusted with guarding the Insignia of Wallachian sovereignty until the forthcoming election: the throne, the sceptre... and the trunk., from "News of the day"
Original title: Entrusted with guarding the Insignia of Wallachian sovereignty until the forthcoming election: the throne, the sceptre... and the trunk., from "News of the day"
kurzbeschreibung
This lithograph from 1866 by Honoré Daumier shows a woman in historical dress seated on an armchair, with a throne behind her. Part of the series 'News of the day', the print is a satirical comment on the political situation in the Danubian Principalities.
Description
A woman appears in a dress with sleeves and a head covering that seems borrowed from the 18th or 19th century. She sits upright, arms crossed over her chest, expressing determination. Behind her stands a throne, next to it a curtain partly pulled back. A cloth lies on the floor; the layout feels asymmetrical and draws the eye to the seated figure.
Context
This lithograph was made for the French satirical journal 'Le Charivari', where Daumier's series 'News of the day' was published. The date of 30 March 1866 falls in a time of political uncertainty in the Danubian Principalities, which followed the union of Wallachia and Moldavia under Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Daumier took up the upcoming election of a ruler in his caricature.
Impact
The exaggerated female figure and symbolic props such as the throne and the suitcase give the sheet a humorous, ironic touch. The monochrome execution on newsprint emphasizes its topical, day-to-day political reference.
Technique
The sheet was printed as a lithograph on newsprint in four states; here the fourth state is present. Lithography allowed fine lines and shading, which were used for the caricatural effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)