← Honoré Daumier

The cloud of ducks obscures the sky so much that poor Europe does not know what road to take, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, October 22, 1867

Original title: The cloud of ducks obscures the sky so much that poor Europe does not know what road to take, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, October 22, 1867

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

October 22, 1867

Medium

Lithograph and pen and brown ink on newsprint; third state of four, proof (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 5/16 × 7 13/16 in. (23.7 × 19.9 cm) Sheet: 13 5/16 × 10 5/8 in. (33.8 × 27 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1956

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's 1867 lithograph presents Europe as an allegorical figure surrounded by a cloud of ducks. The print belongs to the series 'Tagesneuigkeiten' and was reworked in the third of four states with pen and brown ink. The scene mocks Europe's political helplessness during a period of international tension.

Description

A woman in classical drapery, bearing a shield inscribed 'EUROPE', stands between two columns. Her gaze is pensive, directed upward, while numerous ducks fly in all directions, almost entirely covering the sky. Clouds and part of a building are visible in the background. The lower margin of the sheet carries the French accompanying text. The dense swarms of ducks appear chaotic and restless.

Context

On 22 October 1867, the lithograph appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari, for which Daumier regularly drew political caricatures. The 'duck cloud' refers to European politics of those years, shaped by conflicts such as the Franco-Prussian War and the Luxembourg crisis. With the figure of Europe, Daumier addressed the helplessness of the powers in the face of military threats. The sheet is among his late political caricatures, which often employed animal imagery.

Impact

The oversized flock of ducks creates a surreal and at the same time threatening atmosphere that emphasizes the powerlessness of the allegorical figure. The contrast between the calm, classical Europe and the hectic fluttering of the birds makes the political message immediately palpable. Finest pen drawing and lithographic areas combine to produce a distinctive intensity.

Technique

Daumier used lithography, a common printing process for satirical sheets at the time, and reworked the proof with pen and brown ink on newsprint. This is the third of four states, suggesting careful revision of the motif. The combination of print and manual drawing illustrates Daumier's working method, which often involved several stages of correction.

AI-generated description text

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