Will she be helped enough..., from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, June 17, 1870
Original title: Will she be helped enough..., from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, June 17, 1870
kurzbeschreibung
Two weary figures haul heavy sacks labelled 'Steuer auf Anzeigen' and 'Briefmarke' in Honoré Daumier's 1870 lithograph, a biting critique of the financial burden on the press. Published in Le Charivari on 17 June 1870, this political caricature captures the strain of taxation.
Description
Left and right, two figures brace themselves against large sacks; the left sack reads 'IMPÔT SUR LES ANNONCES', the right 'TIMBRE'. The left figure also clutches a scroll inscribed 'LA PRESSE'. Exhaustion is written on both faces, their postures frozen as if in struggle. The background stays bare, showing only texts and numbers reminiscent of newspapers. Black and white dominates, as is typical for lithographs.
Context
Daumier, a regular contributor to the satirical journal Le Charivari, published this lithograph on 17 June 1870. It targets French tax policy, specifically the duties on advertisements and stamps that weighed heavily on the press. Daumier often denounced social and political abuses in his work. This print is the second state of two, as noted in the Delteil catalogue.
Impact
The overloaded figures and their tense poses evoke a sense of exhaustion and pressure. The clearly legible inscriptions on the sacks bring the satirical message to the fore, while the reduced black-and-white treatment reinforces the impact.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint—a process typical of Daumier's caricatures. The second of two states represents the final version printed in Le Charivari. This technique allows for fine lines and precise rendering of textures, as seen on the sacks and scrolls.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)