It almost looks as if this year Papa Mars will not be cutting the grass under my feet
Original title: It almost looks as if this year Papa Mars will not be cutting the grass under my feet, from "News of the day"
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike Daumier's usual Parisian street scenes, this 1868 print heads to the countryside: a woman in a hat and a ploughing man engage in a dialogue that the accompanying French text reveals as ironic commentary. The lithograph belongs to the series 'News of the Day' and does without colour.
Description
In the foreground sits a woman in a hat, her gaze drifting ahead. Beside her, a man steers the plough with a long stick. Behind the two, other figures and plants emerge, suggesting a rural setting. Black on white throughout, the sheet carries the inscribed line: 'Allons pour cette année papa Mars n'a pas l'air de vouloir me couper l'herbe sous le pied!'
Context
The lithograph was made for 'Le Charivari', where Daumier's series 'News of the Day' was published. It bears the date 19 March 1868 – years of internal tensions and social shifts in France. The reference to 'Papa Mars' alludes both to the god of war and to the god of spring, holding out hope for a peaceful harvest.
Impact
The ironic caption works against the calm of the rural scene. From the contrast between the pensive woman and the ploughing man arises a reflective mood, which the humorous text then breaks open again.
Technique
Lithograph on newsprint, second state of two. The process allows fine lines and gradations of shading to be captured in black and white. The image measures 24 × 20.5 cm, the sheet 28.8 × 29.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)