← Honoré Daumier

The European state of affairs, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 18, 1868

Original title: The European state of affairs, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 18, 1868

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

August 18, 1868

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 1/2 × 8 5/8 in. (24.1 × 21.9 cm) Sheet: 11 5/16 × 11 9/16 in. (28.7 × 29.3 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1953

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in August 1868 for the satirical journal Le Charivari. Titled The Situation in Europe, it belongs to the series Tagesneuigkeiten (Daily News) and presents various national figures in a confrontational scene. Printed in black and white on newsprint, the work is documented as the second state of two.

Description

A row of humanlike figures staggers across the picture surface. Wreaths, hats, and caps identify each figure as a national or political representative. They appear to be arguing or negotiating, with the arrangement ordered toward a center. Foreground figures are more detailed, while those behind recede. The rendering remains black and white throughout, with even lighting and no strong shadows.

Context

Daumier drew the motif for Le Charivari, where it appeared on 18 August 1868. The print targets the political friction in Europe, shaped by nationalisms and power claims of those years. The artist was known for his political and social caricatures, which reached a broad bourgeois public. An edition of the lithograph exists, documented as the second state of two.

Impact

The exaggerated figures and symmetrical lineup make the print immediately legible as a satirical comment on European politics. Because the black-and-white technique stays reduced, contours stand out clearly, and attention turns to the interaction among the figures. Viewers are prompted to reconsider the national stereotypes put on display.

Technique

Daumier worked with lithography on newsprint, a common printing method for him. The printing plate was treated with greasy chalk, producing fine lines and even shading. Printing was in black and white, which strengthens contrasts and preserves the caricature's legibility.

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