Marius in the ruins of Carthage, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 7, 1867
Original title: Marius in the ruins of Carthage, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 7, 1867
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1867 lithograph caricatures two gentlemen in suits and hats posing in chains before a ruined archway. The print appeared in Le Charivari on August 7, 1867, and is the second of two states.
Description
Two bourgeois men, shackled by chains, stand before an open arch that evokes ancient ruins. A sign reads 'PRISON POUR DETTES' (debtors' prison). Through the arch, two figures work with hammer and shovel. Below the image, a text box carries the title 'MARIUS SUR LES RUINES DE CARTHAGE' and a short narrative.
Context
Daumier made this lithograph for the satirical journal Le Charivari, where he regularly published political and social caricatures. The motif draws on the ancient story that the Roman general Marius, after his exile, sat among the ruins of Carthage. Daumier used this historical reference to allude to a contemporary injustice: imprisonment for debt, which persisted in France until 1867.
Impact
Ancient tragedy and bourgeois absurdity collide in an ironic, critical tone. The exaggerated facial features and the ridiculous plight of the chained men provoke both amusement and reflection. The black-and-white printing heightens the somber yet satirical mood.
Technique
The image was printed as a lithograph on newsprint—a common process for Daumier's satirical work. Lithography allowed fine lines and rapid print runs, making it especially suitable for publication in daily newspapers. The work survives in the second of two states.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)