← Honoré Daumier

I beg you, get back into your box. You are going to endanger my equilibrium, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, January 13, 1869

Original title: I beg you, get back into your box. You are going to endanger my equilibrium, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, January 13, 1869

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

January 13, 1869

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 1/2 × 8 9/16 in. (24.1 × 21.7 cm) Sheet: 11 5/8 × 11 9/16 in. (29.5 × 29.3 cm)

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1948

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1869, published in the satirical journal Le Charivari, presents two allegorical figures: an embodiment of the 'Orient,' complete with turban and pipe, climbs out of a container while a woman interpreted as 'Europe' tries to push him back. The print is the second of two states (Delteil) and was printed on newsprint.

Description

A bearded figure wearing a turban, glasses, and a pipe squats on a box-like vessel and leans forward menacingly. Opposite him sits a crowned woman who extends her arm as if to fend off the man; her face looks tense and worried. The background remains bare, emphasizing the confrontation between the two in the foreground. Below the image is the sentence: 'Je vous en prie, rentrez dans votre boite, vous allez compromettre mon équilibre.'

Context

Daumier drew this lithograph for the satirical newspaper Le Charivari, which published it on January 13, 1869, as part of the 'Actualités' series. It takes up the political frictions between the Ottoman Empire and the European powers before the Franco-Prussian War. 'Orient' and 'Europe' stand as personifications of the geopolitical tensions of the time, with Daumier addressing the fragile balance of European diplomacy. The print belongs to the tradition of socially critical printmaking in nineteenth-century France.

Impact

The opposing postures create immediate tension: the 'Orient' acts dynamically and almost aggressively, while 'Europe' remains defensive and fearful. The exaggerated facial features and gestures give the image an ironic sharpness that brings out the political seriousness beneath the comic surface. The concentration on essentials directs the viewer's attention to the symbolic message of a disturbed balance.

Technique

Daumier used lithography on newsprint, a process that allowed quick and inexpensive editions. Fine hatching and clear contours capture facial expressions and body language precisely. The second state (Delteil) shows possible revisions compared to the first but remains committed to monochrome printmaking.

AI-generated description text

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