← Honoré Daumier

We would have never thought that one day we would sail on this vessel, from 'News of the day,' published in "L'Album du Siège"

Original title: We would have never thought that one day we would sail on this vessel, 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 7/8 × 6 15/16 in. (22.6 × 17.7 cm) Sheet: 12 5/8 × 9 1/2 in. (32 × 24.2 cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's lithograph of 1870 presents two uniformed soldiers in an interior, looking at a ship that seems to float freely in the air. The sheet belongs to the series 'L'Album du Siège' and shows Daumier's satirical reckoning with the Franco-Prussian War.

Description

Two soldiers occupy the foreground, their uniforms rendered precisely down to caps and belts. The soldier on the left points upward with an outstretched finger, while the one on the right holds a weapon and follows the other's gaze. Behind them a stylised ship hovers in the room with no visible support. Black and white governs the image, with clear lines and plain areas of tone defining floor and wall. A French text along the lower edge accompanies the action.

Context

The lithograph was made in 1870, during the siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War. Daumier published it in the satirical journal 'L'Album du Siège', which dealt with the daily life and expectations of the Parisian population. The floating ship alludes to the technical innovations of the period, above all balloon flights, which were used during the siege for carrying messages and passengers.

Impact

Irony and melancholy run through the sheet as the soldiers marvel at an impossible object. The hovering craft stands against the static, everyday setting and underlines the absurdity of the situation. The clear arrangement draws the eye to the figures' reaction and prompts reflection on war and hope.

Technique

Lithography on wove paper, this impression is the third state of three (Delteil). The process allows fine lines and graduated shading, which come forward in the uniforms and the rendering of the ship. The sheet measures 32 × 24.2 cm, evidence of the careful printing quality characteristic of Daumier's graphic work.

AI-generated description text

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