Bah! I will make a grand tour!
Original title: Bah! I will make a grand tour!, from "News of the day"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph on March 30, 1867, as part of his series News of the Day. It presents a bearded, muscular man in a cap striking a confident pose before a makeshift fence. The print is the third state of three (Delteil) and was pulled on newsprint.
Description
A sturdy man in a shirt-like garment dominates the picture, his left arm raised in triumph. Beard and cap give him a coarse, self-assured look. Behind him hang two signs: the upper reads “EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE,” the lower “MARS n'entre pas ici.” The figure stands before a wooden fence construction and commands the view. This black-and-white lithograph uses precise, careful linework that clearly structures the scene.
Context
Daumier created the print ahead of the 1867 Paris World's Fair, which opened on April 1 of that year. The inscription “MARS n'entre pas ici” alludes to the Minister of War, who was to be denied entry to the exhibition palace during the fair. The News of the Day series regularly took up current political and social events. The work was printed as a lithograph on newsprint—a typical process for Daumier's satirical works.
Impact
Physical strength pairs with a mocking gesture that makes the viewer smile. The clear layout and the figure's expressive posture create an immediate, almost theatrical effect. Daumier's linework lends the sheet a dynamic liveliness that underscores the satirical message.
Technique
Executed as a lithograph on newsprint, the work is in the third of three states. The lithographic process allowed fine, controlled lines and accurate reproduction of details. The black-and-white print emphasizes the graphic quality and the clear legibility of the scene.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)