← Honoré Daumier

Hi! Hi! he licked the butter off my bread!, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"

Original title: Hi! Hi! he licked the butter off my bread!, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

May 3, 1867

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; third state of three (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 3/8 × 8 5/16 in. (23.8 × 21.1 cm) Sheet: 11 1/2 × 9 5/8 in. (29.2 × 24.4 cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1867 for the series 'News of the Day' in 'Le Charivari.' The print uses two figures to caricature a political situation and was printed on newsprint.

Description

On the left stands a smaller, ragged figure with 'CONFÉDÉRATION GERMANIQUE' written above its head; it holds a piece of bread and appears to complain. To the right sits a massive, muscular figure in a military helmet and armor, also with bread in hand, looking toward the other. The ground is bare, with only the line of the earth indicated. Below the image runs the French sentence 'Hi! Hi!... Il m'a léché le beurre de ma tartine!'

Context

Published on May 3, 1867, in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari' as part of the series 'News of the Day,' Daumier's print responds to tensions in Europe, specifically the rivalry between Prussia and other German states, embodied in the figure of the 'Confédération Germanique.' Prussian military power appears overwhelming and threatening.

Impact

The exaggerated figures produce a satirical effect and emphasize the imbalance of power. An everyday metaphor and grotesque distortion combine into political criticism that is immediately clear yet remains ironic.

Technique

Lithograph on newsprint, a common process for Daumier's satirical prints. This is the third of three states (Delteil), suggesting repeated work on the stone.

AI-generated description text

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