Bravo, he is asleep, but his mattress is a bit expensive
Original title: Bravo, he is asleep, but his mattress is a bit expensive, from "News of the day"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1868 for the series 'Nachrichten des Tages' (News of the Day). It shows a sleeping man on a bed strewn with banknotes. The print exists in three known states; this is the third (Delteil), and it was printed as a lithograph on newsprint.
Description
A man lies on his back, eyes closed. A sword balances upright above his head. Banknotes marked '5000' and '1000' cover the mattress. A narrow horizontal strip at the back hints at a flat landscape or sky. The layout is clear and concentrated, with even light and no harsh shadows.
Context
Daumier drew this lithograph for the French satirical journal 'Le Charivari'; it appeared in his series 'Actualités' (News of the Day). Dated March 26, 1868, it belongs to a group of caricatures that took aim at the political and social ills of the time. It alludes to speculation and greed during the Second Empire without naming a specific person.
Impact
The contrast between the peacefully sleeping man and the provocative gesture of the sword—along with the costly mattress—shapes the image's idea. Caricatural exaggeration creates ironic distance and prompts reflection on the relationship between sleep, security, and money. The calm, almost naive treatment heightens the satirical point.
Technique
The lithograph was printed on newsprint, which underscores its character as a topical caricature. Daumier used chalk lithography, which allows fine lines and detailed rendering of figures and objects. Three states of the print are known; this is the third (Delteil).
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)