The Republic calls us! Let us be victorious or die, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, September 20, 1870 (September 20, 1870, Met-Objekt 3627)
Original title: The Republic calls us! Let us be victorious or die, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, September 20, 1870
kurzbeschreibung
A uniformed man with his mouth wide open commands attention in this 1870 lithograph by Honoré Daumier. Part of the 'News of the Day' series, it appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari. The print taps into patriotism during the Franco-Prussian War and is presented here in the second state of two (Delteil), on newsprint.
Description
On the right, a crowd presses around a uniformed leader who brandishes a weapon and seems to shout directly at the viewer. Women and children look frightened or worried, some of them also carrying weapons. The restless arrangement—dense groups of figures with more people behind—suggests flight or combat. Gray tones and fluid, dynamic lines create an atmosphere of urgency and tension.
Context
On September 20, 1870, during the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War, Daumier made this lithograph in response to the call for national defense. The title quotes republican rhetoric urging resistance against Prussian troops. Daumier was known for his political caricatures. That the print appeared in Le Charivari, a satirical newspaper, shows how even humorous papers carried serious political messages.
Impact
The image's immediate emotional force pulls the viewer straight into the action. Caricature-like exaggeration of faces and the tightly packed group heighten the sense of both panic and resolve. The reduced palette and bold lines make the urgency of the historical moment palpable.
Technique
Daumier used lithography, a widely available printing process at the time that allowed fast, inexpensive editions. It was printed on newsprint, pointing to its role as a current-events medium. The second state (Delteil) shows that Daumier reworked the plate to sharpen its impact.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)