Beware of the fall!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, September 24, 1868
Original title: Beware of the fall!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, September 24, 1868
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'Vorsicht vor dem Sturz!' (Beware of the Fall!) from 1868, published on September 24 in Le Charivari, depicts a soldier on a moving horse, clutching his helmet in alarm; spectators are suggested behind him. The print on newsprint belongs to the series 'News of the day'.
Description
A helmeted soldier rides a horse whose legs are caught mid-stride, conveying motion. His face registers surprise, almost fright, and both hands grip his helmet as if he fears a fall. Faint figures in the background appear to watch as spectators. The black-and-white rendering with bold lines emphasizes the horse's movement. Below the scene, the text 'Gare la culbulte!' is part of the image.
Context
The lithograph appeared in the satirical series 'News of the day' in the French journal Le Charivari, known for political and social caricature. Daumier made the print in 1868, a time of political tension in France under Napoleon III. The title 'Beware of the fall!' and the French text 'Gare la culbulte!' (roughly: 'Watch out, the somersault!') warn of a fall, which can be read as a political allusion to the unstable situation. The work is the second state of two known states (Delteil).
Impact
The soldier's exaggerated expression and the dynamic horse make the caricature both comic and threatening. The high-contrast graphic impact of the black-and-white lithograph draws attention to the central figure. Title and caption address the viewer directly, prompting interpretation of the scene.
Technique
As a lithograph on newsprint, the work was drawn with greasy chalk on stone and then printed on paper. The black-and-white execution with bold lines and hatching is typical of Daumier's prints. It is the second state of two, indicating later revisions to the printing stone.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)