The sadness of Rouher: Even though I did my best in stuffing him, it is impossible to make believe that he is still alive, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"
Original title: The sadness of Rouher: Even though I did my best in stuffing him, it is impossible to make believe that he is still alive, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many political caricatures of its time, Honoré Daumier's lithograph 'The Mourning of Rouher' from 12 July 1871 relies on an unusual blend of bodily comedy and monumental motif. Part of the series 'News of the Day' for 'Le Charivari', the print shows the French politician Eugène Rouher in an exaggerated, obese form before a statue with an eagle's head. This lithograph on newsprint lampoons the fallen man and the defunct regime.
Description
A bulky, clearly overstated figure dominates the foreground: one hand rests on his belly, the other clutches his head as if to express grief or despair. He wears only a simple shirt and trousers. Behind him, on a pedestal in a niche, rises a statue depicting a figure with an eagle's head and some kind of uniform or cap. The layout is asymmetrical, setting the foreground figure against the background monument. The light is diffuse and even, typical of lithographs from this era.
Context
The print was made in July 1871, immediately after the Franco-Prussian War and the end of the Second Empire. Eugène Rouher, a leading statesman and close confidant of Napoleon III, had gone into exile after the empire's fall. Daumier, known for his political caricatures, used this series to comment on the situation and the protagonists of the deposed regime. The lithograph was published in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari', famous for its critical and humorous contributions.
Impact
The figure's exaggerated proportions and the contrasting statue behind him produce a mix of comedy and criticism. Rouher appears as a stuffed, lifeless figure—an image of the old regime's powerlessness and absurdity. The visual language is direct and memorable, characteristic of Daumier's satirical work.
Technique
The print was made as a lithograph on newsprint, drawn with greasy chalk on a stone and then printed. It is the second state of two (Delteil). This process allows fine lines and shading, used here for caricatural effect. At 24.6 × 19.5 cm, the work has the small format usual for newspaper illustrations.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)