← Honoré Daumier

Rehearsing his smile before presenting himself to his constituency, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, April 20, 1869

Original title: Rehearsing his smile before presenting himself to his constituency, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, April 20, 1869

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

April 20, 1869

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 1/8 × 8 1/16 in. (23.2 × 20.4 cm) Sheet: 10 1/4 × 8 3/4 in. (26 × 22.2 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier, known for his political caricatures, made this lithograph in 1869: a man practices his smile in the mirror before meeting voters. The print belongs to the series 'News of the day' and appeared on April 20, 1869, in the satirical magazine Le Charivari. It was printed on newsprint, in the second of two states.

Description

A gentleman in a dark suit with a tie leans slightly forward and studies his reflection. His face shows thoughtfulness and a trace of worry. The mirror sits in the middle; behind it lies a dark, textured background that suggests a wall or a curtain. Light falls from the right, accenting contours and shadows. The image stays in grayscale, with caricatural features that stand out through the exaggerated expression.

Context

Daumier created this print for the satirical newspaper Le Charivari, to which he regularly contributed political and social commentary. The series 'News of the day' took up current events and human weaknesses. The lithograph was made before the French parliamentary elections of 1869, when candidates were courting votes. Daumier thus caricatured the hypocrisy and self-staging of politicians who rehearsed their public facade.

Impact

An ironic distance arises because the artificial preparation of authenticity is exposed. The viewer becomes a silent witness to a private, almost comic scene that reveals political vanity. The mix of thoughtful expression and ridiculous pose gives the print a timeless relevance.

Technique

Daumier used lithography, a planographic process that allowed quick and inexpensive print runs. Printing on newsprint underscores the ephemeral character of the satire. The drawing features fine hatching and contrasts that result from the manual working of the stone.

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