A quarter of an hour after his death, he was still living, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 20, 1866
Original title: A quarter of an hour after his death, he was still living, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 20, 1866
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1866 lithograph is a satirical take on the press and its contradictory reports. The print belongs to the series 'News of the day' and was published as a lithograph on newsprint.
Description
Two scenes split the image: on the left, several figures crowd together in frantic motion, personifying newspapers or news items; some hold signs with inscriptions such as 'LAPRESSE UNE IDÉE PAR JOUR'. On the right, three women kneel in prayer around a dying man. The layout feels restless and chaotic due to the opposing movements. Black and white dominates the entire sheet, with light falling from above highlighting the contours.
Context
This lithograph appeared on 20 February 1866 in the satirical journal Le Charivari. The series 'News of the day' addressed current events and social ills in 19th-century France. The caricature targets the press's practice of spreading contradictory reports—an allusion also echoed in the ironic title.
Impact
The exaggerated figures and the contrast between the hectic press world and the quiet death scene create a bitter comedy. Viewers are prompted to reflect on the credibility of news. The clear black-and-white lithography heightens the satirical bite.
Technique
Daumier drew with greasy chalk on the stone and then printed on newsprint—a process that allowed fine line drawings and clear text reproduction, crucial for caricature. This is the second state of two, as documented in the Delteil catalogue raisonné.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)