Victim of the drought, from "News of the day"
Original title: Victim of the drought, from "News of the day"
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'Victim of the Drought', dated 16 July 1870, shows a man carrying water bottles in a parched landscape. Printed on newsprint, this impression is in the second of two states described by Delteil.
Description
A man in a dark, wide-brimmed cap, jacket, and trousers stands in the foreground. He holds a water bottle in one hand, and another is tucked into his belt. His face conveys worry. Beside him on the ground lies a basket containing bottles and other items. Bare-looking trees and a dry field in the background suggest a drought. Black and white dominate the image; the lines are detailed and clear, and the layout draws the eye to the man and his surroundings.
Context
The print was made on 16 July 1870, just days before the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War. Daumier issued it within his series 'News of the Day' (Actualités), through which he commented on political and social events. Printing on newsprint was standard practice for satirical sheets of the period.
Impact
A quiet but insistent sense of oppression emanates from the image: the dry landscape and the man's anxious posture create a silent drama. The clear arrangement focuses attention on one person's hardship without slipping into pathos.
Technique
Lithography on newsprint, second of two states (Delteil). This process allows fine, precise lines, especially visible in the shading of the trees and the ground. Printing on newsprint was characteristic of Daumier's satirical series.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)