← Honoré Daumier

A Model Assembly, or Unity Makes Strength, from 'News of the Day,' published in Le Charivari, August 19, 1871

Original title: A model of an assembly or unity makes strength, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 19, 1871

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

August 19, 1871

Medium

Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 9 3/16 × 7 11/16 in. (23.4 × 19.5 cm) Sheet: 11 5/8 × 12 1/16 in. (29.5 × 30.6 cm)

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1948

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1871 presents an oversized figure pressing a smaller person against a stone-like mass—a grotesque scene. The print appeared on August 19, 1871, within the series 'News of the day' in the satirical journal Le Charivari. This is the second state of two (Delteil).

Description

In the foreground, a human-like figure with a distorted expression holds a smaller form in its arm and presses it against a massive, stone-like surface. Behind, blurred, fluid shapes suggest a crowd. The layout feels dynamic and high-contrast; attention rests entirely on the interaction of the two figures. Dark shading and bright accents create a gloomy mood. At the bottom edge reads: 'UNE ASSEMBLÉE MODÈLE ou L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE.'

Context

The caricature was made in August 1871, only a short time after the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune. The series 'News of the day' appeared regularly in Le Charivari, a well-known satirical journal of the time. The print likely alludes to the political tensions of the Third Republic and the search for national unity. Daumier was known for his political and social caricatures.

Impact

The exaggerated figures and dark coloring make the scene feel oppressive and almost threatening. The arrangement directs the gaze to the violent contact, thus reinforcing the satirical critique of power relations. The print feels immediate and provocative—typical of Daumier.

Technique

Lithography on newsprint: in this process, one draws with greasy chalk on a stone and then prints. Daumier used it for quick, expressive caricatures reproduced in newspapers. The second state reveals possible reworking compared to the first, as documented in the Delteil catalogue raisonné.

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