An Anatomy Lesson, from 'News of the Day,' published in Le Charivari, August 21, 1869
Original title: An anatomy lesson, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 21, 1869
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike comparable political caricatures of the period, Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'An Anatomy Lesson' of 21 August 1869 stages a group of people around a table on which a body lies covered by a cloth. The cloth bears the word 'CONSTITUTION'. The print appeared in the satirical magazine Le Charivari and counts among Daumier's political caricatures.
Description
The arrangement feels balanced: the table anchors the middle, with several figures gathered around it. An authority figure lifts the cloth and scrutinizes the body, while the others watch with expressions ranging from curiosity to astonishment. Black and white, without strong shadows, the lighting stays even throughout. The style is caricatural and humorous, as is typical of Daumier's satirical work.
Context
This lithograph was published in the French satirical magazine Le Charivari, known for its political and social caricatures. It dates from 1869, at the close of the Second Empire under Napoleon III, a time of political tension. The word 'CONSTITUTION' on the cloth alludes to the constitutional debate then under way in France, which Daumier follows critically here.
Impact
By transferring a serious anatomy lesson onto the political situation, the print creates an ironic distance. The caricatural figures and the central symbolism prompt reflection on the constitution under examination. The humorous exaggeration moves the viewer to engage with political processes.
Technique
The print was executed as a lithograph on newsprint, in the second state of two (Delteil). This printing method allowed fine lines and rapid reproduction, an advantage for satirical prints in magazines. The monochrome treatment underscores the graphic clarity and the high-contrast rendering of the figures.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)