The declaration of Damocles, from "News of the day"
Original title: The declaration of Damocles, from "News of the day"
kurzbeschreibung
Damocles, who sees the sword hanging above him, serves Daumier here as a foil for a political point. In this 1870 lithograph from the series 'News of the Day', a gallant scene is combined with a dig at the French government. The sheet was printed on newsprint.
Description
Two figures dominate the image. On the left, a bearded gentleman in a suit holds out a flower to a lady. On the right, she stands in a dress bearing the word 'MAJORITÉ' and holds a bow. Above her head hovers the word 'DISSOLUTION'. The layout is unevenly weighted, with light falling evenly across the surface. Caricatural exaggeration shapes the figures: their proportions are distorted, their expressions vivid.
Context
In March 1870, a period of growing political tension in France, Daumier published this sheet in the satirical newspaper 'Le Charivari'. The words 'Majorité' and 'Dissolution' allude to the situation of parliament under Napoleon III. With biting irony, the series 'News of the Day' took up current events.
Impact
An ironic contrast arises between the man's courteous gesture and the political inscriptions. The exaggerated figures veer between comedy and menace. Without losing its satirical lightness, the print prompts reflection on power relations.
Technique
For the lithograph, Daumier applied fine lines and gradations to newsprint. The process allowed rapid print runs for the daily press. This is the second of two states, showing the final version of the image.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)