← Honoré Daumier

Square Napoleon, from 'News of the day,' published in "L'Album du Siège"

Original title: Square Napoleon, from 'News of the day,' published in "L'Album du Siège"

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

1870

Medium

Lithograph on wove paper; third state of three (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 8 9/16 × 7 1/16 in. (21.7 × 18 cm) Sheet: 12 1/2 × 9 9/16 in. (31.8 × 24.3 cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957

kurzbeschreibung

Four tombstones marked with skull and bones stand in the foreground of this 1870 lithograph by Honoré Daumier. Titled 'Place Napoléon', the print belongs to the series 'L'Album du Siège', created during the siege of Paris. The black-and-white scene measures 21.7 × 18 cm and commemorates the dead of the Franco-Prussian War as well as political victims.

Description

On the four slabs in the foreground, inscriptions such as 'Morts à Sédan 1870' and 'Morts à Cayenne' can be read, each accompanied by a skull and crossbones. Behind them, numerous other tombstones line up to form an extensive cemetery that stretches into the distance. A gloomy, foggy sky hangs over the scene, reinforcing the oppressive impression. The layout appears symmetrical: the front stones as a clear accent, the cemetery as background. Clear lines and graduated shading give the print depth and structure.

Context

Daumier drew this sheet in 1870, while Paris was under siege in the Franco-Prussian War. With the series 'L'Album du Siège', he captured events and moods of those months. The inscriptions name specific historical references: the Battle of Sedan, the deportations to Lambessa and Cayenne, and the unrest on the Boulevard Montmartre in 1831. Daumier was known for his political caricatures and satires, which opposed oppression and war.

Impact

A melancholic, somber mood emanates from the print, carried by the foggy sky and the multitude of tombstones. The inscriptions prompt reflection on the victims of war and political violence. Through the symmetrical arrangement and clear draughtsmanship, the work acquires a serious, almost monumental presence.

Technique

The lithograph on wove paper exists in the third of three states (Delteil). This printing process allows fine lines and soft shading that support the gloomy atmosphere. Daumier used the technique to render the scene in rich detail and with emotional depth.

AI-generated description text

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