Look, but don't touch!
Original title: Look, but don't touch!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 25, 1871
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph of 1871 presents a man wrestling with an oversized flag bearing the French coat of arms. Published on August 25, 1871, in the series “News of the day” in Le Charivari, it offers a satirical comment on the political situation after the Franco-Prussian War.
Description
A comic figure struggles under an enormous flag with fleur-de-lys. Several formally dressed individuals in the background appear agitated or worried. The setting resembles a ruined city or wreckage. The image remains monochrome in shades of gray, with even lighting and no shadows.
Context
Created in August 1871, just months after the end of the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune, the lithograph uses the fleur-de-lys flag to symbolize the monarchy and the ruins behind to evoke France’s devastation. It appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari, for which Daumier regularly drew political caricatures.
Impact
The exaggerated posture of the flag-bearer elicits both humor and reflection. A comic figure set against a ruined environment highlights the absurdity of the political situation. The caption “Regardez, mais n’y touchez pas!” sharpens the ironic tone.
Technique
The work is a lithograph on newsprint, second state of two (Delteil). This technique allowed Daumier to achieve fine lines and shading that stand out in the gray tones of the print. The use of newsprint confirms its purpose as a mass medium for political satire.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)