By God! If Ireland should really wave this flag now!, from "News of the Day"
Original title: By God! If Ireland should really wave this flag now!, from "News of the Day"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph of 1866 is a caricature on the question of universal suffrage in Ireland. Two figures stand against the backdrop of a newspaper page, one of them holding a banner inscribed "SUFFRAGE UNIVERSEL." The sheet belongs to the series "News of the Day" and was printed as a lithograph on newsprint.
Description
Foreground interest rests on two figures. One is a very gaunt, upright character with a grim, almost frightening expression, gripping a large banner that reads "SUFFRAGE UNIVERSEL." The second figure, seen from behind in traditional dress, turns toward the first; the face stays neutral. Blurred text and drawings suggest a newspaper page behind them. Tonal range is black and white throughout.
Context
Daumier made this sheet for the French satirical journal Le Charivari as part of the series "News of the Day." It appeared in November 1866, when Britain and Ireland were arguing fiercely over extending the franchise. Irish independence agitation and the demand for universal suffrage were live issues, and the artist answered them with this caricature.
Impact
The contrasting pair and the conspicuous banner fix themselves in the memory at once. The banner-bearer's dark expression creates an unsettling mood that drives home the political urgency of the subject. The spare black-and-white graphic keeps attention on the central message.
Technique
The image was printed as a lithograph on newsprint, a process typical of Daumier's satirical prints. Lithography allowed fine lines and rapid execution, ideal for topical political caricature. This impression is the fourth of four states (Delteil), which points to repeated reworking of the stone.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)