Make room for the young!
Original title: Make room for the young!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 9, 1870
kurzbeschreibung
Two elderly men stand outside the Ministry of Justice in this lithograph by Honoré Daumier, made in February 1870. The sheet belongs to the series 'News of the day' and appeared on 9 February 1870 in Le Charivari. It is a caricature in the second state of two (Delteil).
Description
Before a facade inscribed 'MINISTÈRE DE LA JUSTICE' plant themselves two aged men, each holding a sign: 'RUE DE L'ARCH' and 'RUE DE POITI'. Their faces are exaggerated, their postures stylized, as is typical of Daumier's caricatures. The layout centers entirely on the two figures and the building; the black-and-white reproduction stays monochrome and plain.
Context
Daumier made this lithograph for the satirical magazine Le Charivari, where he regularly commented on political and social ills. The date of 9 February 1870 falls in the late phase of the Second Empire under Napoleon III. The street names and the reference to the Ministry of Justice may allude to specific events or people of the time. Daumier's critical attitude toward the judiciary and the bourgeoisie is palpable here as well.
Impact
The two old men with their signs seem comic and oddly out of place. Exaggerated expressions and body language sharpen the satirical tone. Viewers are prompted to think about the generational conflict—and about old elites stubbornly clinging to their posts.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint—a common process for satirical prints of the period. The drawing was transferred to a lithographic stone and printed in high numbers. The existence of a second state (Delteil) indicates that the stone was reworked after the first pull.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)