← Honoré Daumier

A Hercules who even beats those at the Saint-Cloud Fair, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, September 7, 1868

Original title: A Hercules who even beats those at the Saint-Cloud Fair, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, September 7, 1868

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

September 7, 1868

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 1/2 × 8 1/8 in. (24.1 × 20.6 cm) Sheet: 11 9/16 × 10 7/8 in. (29.3 × 27.6 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1868, published in the satirical magazine Le Charivari, presents a strong man carrying a large basket of fruit on his head; a woman in similar attire accompanies him. The print pokes fun at the attractions of the Saint-Cloud fair and takes aim at the shows there.

Description

A muscular man balances a large basket full of fruit on his head, while a woman, also wearing only a cloth, shares the basket with him. Both stand in dynamic poses that emphasize strength and effort. Blurred spectators appear in the background. The layout is symmetrical, with the basket as the central element; the drawing uses emphasized contours. Light falls evenly, without visible shadows, and the style remains caricatural and humorous.

Context

Daumier created this lithograph for the satirical daily Le Charivari, where he regularly published political and social caricatures. The Saint-Cloud fair was a well-known popular festival near Paris, famous for its showmen and performances. The work parodies the feats of strength shown there by presenting a 'Hercules' who surpasses them. Dated September 7, 1868, the print belongs to Daumier's late period, when he increasingly turned to social themes.

Impact

The exaggerated proportions and humorous design produce a comic effect and make the viewer smile. Strength and effort appear both impressive and ridiculous—a trait typical of Daumier's satirical style.

Technique

As a lithograph on newsprint, the print uses a process that Daumier employed for his caricatures in Le Charivari. It is the second state of two (Delteil), indicating a reworking of the printing plate. The technique allowed for fine lines and contrasts, used here for the detailed drawing and emphasized contours.

AI-generated description text

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