Look out for the light!, from 'News of the day,' published in 'Le Charivari'
Original title: Look out for the light!, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's political caricature appeared in lithograph form on April 5, 1870, as part of the "News of the day" series and was printed in "Le Charivari." At its heart hangs a lantern inscribed "LIBERTE ELECTORALE," standing for the right to vote.
Description
A lantern labeled "LIBERTE ELECTORALE" hangs at the picture's center, gripped by two hands, one from above and one from below. A bird marked with the number "56" on its back circles the lantern while other figures move about. In the lower half of the image two figures turn and twist, giving the scene a restless energy. The words "Gare la lumière!" are placed prominently.
Context
Daumier drew this lithograph for the satirical journal "Le Charivari," where he regularly published political and social criticism. The sheet dates from April 1870, shortly before the fall of the Second Empire under Napoleon III. The number "56" on the bird may refer to a particular electoral district or event. The caricature takes aim at the voting-rights debates of the period in France.
Impact
The controlling hands above and below the lantern create a mood of tension. The moving figures and the bird lend the image a lively, almost chaotic character. Through the lantern at its center, the message of electoral freedom comes across with force.
Technique
The sheet was executed as a black-and-white lithograph on wove paper and represents the second state of two (Delteil). Lithography allowed for delicate lines and shading, which were put to use in this richly detailed caricature.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)