Look out!
Original title: Look out!, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"
kurzbeschreibung
From the series 'Neuigkeiten des Tages' (News of the Day) comes the lithograph 'Achtung!', published by Honoré Daumier on July 1, 1868, in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari'. It shows an allegorical female figure with the globe, grappling with the political catchwords of the era.
Description
A female figure wears a gown inscribed 'PAIX' and holds the globe. She pulls away from the sphere with verve while clutching a plant. Around her are lettered phrases such as 'QUESTION ROMAINE', 'QUESTION D'AFRIQUE', and 'QUESTION D'ORIENT', marking political conflict zones. The layout has a strong sense of perspective; delicate lines and nuanced shading define the monochrome lithograph. At the bottom of the sheet appears the word 'Attention!'.
Context
Daumier drew regularly for 'Le Charivari', a Parisian satirical journal, on political and social themes. In 1868, the Second Empire under Napoleon III was marked by internal tensions: the 'Roman Question' over the Papal States, colonial policy in Africa, and the unstable situation in the Ottoman Empire. The figure of Peace, beset by these problems, reflects contemporary anxiety about European peace. This impression is the third of three states (Delteil), suggesting reworking by the artist.
Impact
The figure's dynamic pose and the menacing lettering create tension between hope for peace and political unrest. Clear lines and a legible arrangement direct the eye to the allegory, so that the warning message stands out forcefully.
Technique
The sheet was printed as a lithograph on newsprint: drawn with greasy chalk on a stone, then printed. The precise lines and shadings demonstrate Daumier's confident handling of the process. The third state means the printing stone was subsequently reworked to refine the image.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)