The first roll-call of the new legislature – Be still my beating heart... Go to the tribune for the first time!
Original title: The first roll-call of the new legislature –Be still my beating heart... Go to the tribune for the first time!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, June 21, 1870
kurzbeschreibung
In 1870 Honoré Daumier captured the moment a newly elected deputy first steps up to the speaker's rostrum. This lithograph belongs to his series News of the day and appeared in Le Charivari in June of that year. It plays out the excitement and unease of a parliamentarian before his maiden speech.
Description
In the foreground a group of men lean over the railing of a gallery, heads close together as if in earnest consultation. Their faces and hairstyles are exaggerated into caricature, betraying the satirical intent. Behind them a man stands at the rostrum, evidently in the middle of speaking. The image stays entirely in shades of gray, evenly lit and without harsh contrasts.
Context
The caricature was made in 1870, during a period of political upheaval in France and only a few months before the Franco-Prussian War. It was published in the satirical paper Le Charivari, known for its political mockery. Daumier targets parliamentary routine and the stage fright of a deputy's maiden speech, a theme that recurs in his work.
Impact
The exaggerated expressions and comic staging make the print both amusing and critical. It captures the absurdity and inner tension that are part of political ritual, drawing a smile while quietly undermining the solemn seriousness of parliamentary proceedings.
Technique
The print was made as a lithograph on newsprint; it survives in two states, and this is the second state according to Delteil. Lithography allows fine lines and graduated gray tones, whose even quality is characteristic of the medium. The image area measures 24.7 × 21.1 cm; the sheet belongs to a series that appeared in Le Charivari.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)