← Honoré Daumier

Calling their reserve conscripts to the colors, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 31, 1870

Original title: Calling their reserve conscripts to the colors, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 31, 1870

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

August 31, 1870

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 5/8 × 8 3/4 in. (24.5 × 22.2 cm) Sheet: 14 5/16 × 11 5/8 in. (36.4 × 29.6 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier’s 1870 lithograph captures the call-up of reservists during the Franco-Prussian War. It appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari and exists in the second of two states. At its heart lies the fraught encounter between uniformed soldiers and civilians.

Description

Two soldiers in uniform, pikes at the ready, push through a crowd of civilians. A woman with a child in her arms tries to pull away from their grasp. A sign reading 'DUCHÉ DE BADE' can be made out behind them. The arrangement feels dynamic, stressing the clash between military and civilian life, with strong contrasts between the figures and the background. The lithograph’s grey tones and caricatural, expressive drawing heighten the drama.

Context

Daumier made this lithograph in August 1870, shortly after the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, when France was calling up reservists. He published it in the satirical journal Le Charivari, known for its political criticism. The sign 'DUCHÉ DE BADE' refers to the Grand Duchy of Baden, a German adversary, and points to the border region. The scene reflects the social tensions and harshness of mobilization, themes Daumier tackled in many of his works.

Impact

The expressive portrayal of resistance and distress triggers an immediate emotional response. The dynamic layout and strong light-dark contrasts draw the eye to the civilians’ struggle with the soldiers. Through caricatural exaggeration, the scene gains a satirical edge that prompts reflection on war and forced conscription.

Technique

Daumier used lithography on newsprint, which allowed fast and cheap reproduction. The print is the second of two states and measures 24.5 × 22.2 cm in the image area. Lithography enabled fine shading and expressive lines typical of Daumier’s style.

AI-generated description text

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