Look out for the light!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, April 5, 1870
Original title: Look out for the light!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, April 5, 1870
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made the lithograph "Achtung, das Licht!" on April 5, 1870, as a contribution to the series "News of the day" in the satirical journal Le Charivari. Executed as a lithograph with pen drawing on newsprint, the sheet presents a lantern bearing the inscription "LIBERTE ELECTORALE" (electoral freedom), held down by a hand.
Description
A hand reaching from above holds up a lantern labeled "LIBERTE ELECTORALE." Around this light, several figures in shifting poses are grouped, caught by the rays. Two bird figures at the top are also illuminated. The beams spread in various directions, emphasizing the movements of the figures. At the bottom edge appears the inscription "Gare la lumière!"
Context
The caricature falls in the period of the Second Empire under Napoleon III, when press freedom was severely restricted. Daumier repeatedly took up the manipulation of elections and the deceptive notion of political liberty. With the series "News of the day," he commented on current events in France, often with a satirical edge. The print was made shortly before the Franco-Prussian War, in a phase of growing political tensions.
Impact
The exaggerated figures and the central lantern impress themselves immediately on the viewer. The wit arises from the contrast between light as a sign of enlightenment and the actual political oppression, which prompts reflection.
Technique
Daumier combined lithography with pen and brown ink, allowing for fine line work. The present copy is a proof of the second state on newsprint, underscoring the ephemeral character of the satire. Lithography was suited to rapid, inexpensive editions in journals.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)