A page from history, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, November 16, 1870 (November 16, 1870, Met-Objekt 3625)
Original title: A page from history, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, November 16, 1870
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph from 1870, published in the satirical journal Le Charivari, brings Victor Hugo’s poetry collection Les Châtiments into view: the book lies on the ground, surrounded by rays of light. The political impact of Hugo’s poetry during the Franco-Prussian War is the question behind the image.
Description
An open book lies face down on the ground, struck by diagonal rays from above. The title Les Châtiments is clearly legible. The rays set the layout in motion and make the book stand out as the focal point. Black and white with precise lines and graded shading captures the texture of the paper and the sense of depth.
Context
The print was made during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), when France suffered military defeats. Daumier placed it in Le Charivari, a journal known for its political caricatures. Hugo’s 1853 collection Les Châtiments was a sharp critique of Napoleon III’s Second Empire and became a symbol of resistance in the Third Republic. This lithograph belongs to a series commenting on current events.
Impact
The book appears as a source of light and a bearer of insight—a compelling symbolism. The rays give the scene an almost sacred aura and emphasize the significance of Hugo’s work. At the same time, the clear lines and stark black-and-white contrast make the arrangement immediate and poster-like.
Technique
The print was produced as a lithograph on newsprint: drawn with greasy chalk on a stone and then pulled. This is the third state of three, indicating later revisions to the printing plate. The process allows the fine lines and shading characteristic of Daumier’s style.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)