Behold the broken eggs, the question is whether the omelette will come out well, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"
Original title: Behold the broken eggs, the question is whether the omelette will come out well, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, titled 'Look at the broken eggs, the question is whether the omelette will turn out well,' on June 2, 1866, as a contribution to the series 'News of the Day' in the journal 'Le Charivari.' The print presents a satirical kitchen scene: two figures, one in traditional dress and the other in military uniform, struggle to prepare an omelette, while broken eggs lie in the foreground. As a caricature, the work pokes fun at current events.
Description
A gloomy kitchen interior, crossed by shadows, sets the stage. On the left, a person in traditional clothing holds a bowl and seems to be speaking; on the right, a figure in military uniform with a helmet stands at the stove, swinging a pan from which smoke rises. An omelette sits on the stove, and in front of it eggs are piled up. The layout is asymmetrical: the uniformed figure is brought close to the viewer, while the left-hand figure remains somewhat farther back. Black and white dominate the sheet, as was usual for lithographs of the period.
Context
Daumier produced this lithograph for the satirical journal 'Le Charivari,' where he regularly commented on political and social events. The series 'News of the Day' appeared in the 1860s and lampooned current affairs. The combination of military and kitchen likely alludes to contemporary grievances, such as military inadequacy or the consequences of conflicts. Two states of the work exist; the present second state belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Impact
The print is humorous yet thought-provoking, thanks to the clash between everyday kitchen work and military uniform. Rising smoke and the broken eggs heighten the impression of confusion and mishap. The dark, shadowy background gives the scene a dramatic note and supports the satirical thrust.
Technique
The work is executed as a lithograph on newsprint: drawn with greasy chalk on a stone and then printed. It is the second state of two, indicating later revisions to the printing plate. The image measures 25.4 × 21.1 cm, the sheet 29.5 × 28.2 cm. The black-and-white version corresponds to the usual reproduction in newspapers at the time.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)