Madame Prudhomme, I have learned that the English are going to challenge us in the Paris Grand Prix...
Original title: Madame Prudhomme, I have learned that the English are going to challenge us in the Paris Grand Prix. My patriotism makes it my duty to prepare for this struggle, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, June 1, 1870
kurzbeschreibung
A figure in a striped shirt and cap throws his arms wide on this 1870 sheet by Honoré Daumier, as if about to launch into a little pantomime. Behind him, helping hands hold two horses at the ready. The lithograph belongs to the 'News of the day' series and appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari.
Description
In front, a man in a striped shirt and cap gestures with arms flung out. Behind him stand two horses, steadied by another person holding the reins. Across the upper part of the image, several loosely sketched figures seem to watch the performance. Everything stays black and white, with faces distinctly exaggerated. A French caption runs along the bottom edge, explaining the action.
Context
Daumier drew regularly for the satirical paper Le Charivari, commenting on politics and daily life. This print takes up the Paris Grand Prix, the famous horse race, and alludes to the rivalry between France and England. The 'News of the day' series had been running since 1864, following current events with a mocking tone.
Impact
The exaggerated posture and the humorous caption bring out the joke at once. Caricatural features and the topsy-turvy situation create a satirical distance from the event. You can sense how confidently Daumier skewered social phenomena with a sharp pen.
Technique
The sheet was printed as a lithograph on newsprint: drawn with greasy chalk on stone, the motif could then be reproduced. This is the third state of three (Delteil). For satirical prints especially, the process was practical because it was cheap and available in large runs.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)