← Honoré Daumier

The competition at the conservatory: At the 79th audition of "Oh, what a pleasure to be a soldier!"

Original title: The competition at the conservatory: At the 79th audition of "Oh, what a pleasure to be a soldier!", from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 1, 1870

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

August 1, 1870

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 10 7/16 × 8 13/16 in. (26.5 × 22.4 cm) Sheet: 13 9/16 × 10 15/16 in. (34.4 × 27.8 cm)

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1922

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's 1870 lithograph sets an examination scene at the Conservatoire: a soloist stands on stage while the audience in the foreground watches what unfolds. The sheet was printed on newsprint and is the second state of two.

Description

On stage, a lone figure in theatrical dress acts out a part, posture and hand position suggesting song or recitation. Before him sit several spectators in dark coats, looking expectantly forward. Everything stays in shades of grey, with delicate gradations and crisp contours. Light falls evenly from the front, picking out the figures. The layout turns entirely on the exchange between performer and listeners.

Context

This print was made for the satirical journal Le Charivari and appeared on 1 August 1870 within the series 'Neueste Nachrichten'. The subject takes aim at the entrance examinations of the Paris Conservatoire, notorious for their severity and fierce competition. The title quotes a song popular at the time, sharpening the satirical edge aimed at the musical culture of the day. Daumier regularly used prints for social commentary.

Impact

Clean lines and precise observation of the figures give the sheet an immediate liveliness. Because performer and audience are set against each other, a tense atmosphere arises that draws the viewer into the action. The restrained grey tonality lends the view a serious, timeless quality.

Technique

Executed as a lithograph on newsprint, the work survives in the second of two states. In this process greasy chalk on the stone carries the drawing, yielding fine lines and shading. Daumier mastered the technique and used it for graduated tones and varied textures.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)