← Honoré Daumier

The Decline of the Drama in 1866, from 'Parisian Habits,' published in Le Charivari, May 2, 1866

Original title: The decline of the drama in 1866, from 'Parisian habits,' published in Le Charivari, May 2, 1866

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

May 2, 1866

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 8 15/16 × 8 5/8 in. (22.7 × 21.9 cm) Sheet: 11 5/8 × 11 7/16 in. (29.5 × 29 cm)

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1922

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's 1866 lithograph presents a turbulent theatre scene in which the audience reacts with disbelief. The print belongs to the series 'Parisian Manners' and appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari.

Description

In the foreground, a man leans over a wall, his face stamped with surprise and shock. Close behind him, several people crowd together, their expressions ranging from horror to excitement. The layout extends horizontally, with the figures staggered in a row, emphasizing the shared reaction. The print remains black and white, with even lighting and no strong shadows.

Context

Daumier created this print for Le Charivari, where it was published on 2 May 1866. In the 'Parisian Manners' series, he tackled social phenomena of the Second Empire. The state of Parisian stages, described in the mid-19th century as commercialized and artistically declining, is critically examined here.

Impact

Exaggerated expressions and the dense crowd evoke a comic yet unsettling impression. The audience's emotional overload is immediately palpable, and the caricature targets the decline of theatrical art.

Technique

Lithography on newsprint, a common process for caricatures in satirical journals, was used here. The contours are clearly defined and the shading precisely placed, characteristic of Daumier's mature lithographic style. The print exists in the second of two states (Delteil).

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)