The funeral ceremony for the official candidacy, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, March 31, 1870
Original title: The funeral ceremony for the official candidacy, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, March 31, 1870
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1870 as a satirical funeral for an official candidacy. Printed on newsprint, the sheet mocks the political mood in Second Empire France.
Description
Three figures in the foreground bellow toward a coach that carries a sign reading 'SOUPIÈRE ÉLECTORALE.' They wear traditional, peasant-like clothing and hats. Behind them, more people hurry after the vehicle. Exaggerated expressions and lively postures sharpen the comic, satirical tone.
Context
The lithograph appeared on March 31, 1870, in the satirical journal Le Charivari. It targets official candidacies ahead of elections during the Second Empire. Daumier often used his art to expose political abuses and the manipulation of the voting process. The 'soup dinner election' is an ironic jab at the hypocrisy of official candidates.
Impact
Humor and criticism meet here, with the absurdity of political stagecraft brought forward. The overdone figures and the unusual idea stay in the mind and prompt reflection on election practices of the time.
Technique
Fine lines and close hatching build the faces and the rush of the crowd, while the lithographic stone, printed on newsprint, allowed mass distribution in journals. The monochrome printing produces clear contrasts and delicate shading that support the figures' expressiveness. The impression is printed on a sheet of 29.7 × 29.8 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)