Basile in fear, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 9, 1872
Original title: Basile in fear, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 9, 1872
kurzbeschreibung
In 1872 Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, which shows the allegorical figure Basile threatened by a character called 'St. Ignorance.' The print belongs to the series 'News of the day' and appeared in the satirical magazine Le Charivari. It takes up the education debate then raging in France.
Description
Basile sits with a posture that betrays fear and despair. Facing him stands a figure holding a sign inscribed 'St. Ignorance' and reaching menacingly toward him. Clouds and the words 'Instruction Gratuite et Obligatoire' fill the background. The layout is easy to read, the figures clearly outlined, and the gray tones bring out the contours.
Context
On February 9, 1872, the lithograph appeared in Le Charivari, a journal famous for its political and social caricatures. Daumier targets the introduction of free and compulsory schooling in France, a fiercely contested issue in the 1870s. The figure of Basile refers to the schemer from Beaumarchais's plays, while 'St. Ignorance' personifies the fear of ignorance.
Impact
An oppressive mood arises, making the threat of ignorance and lack of education almost palpable. Daumier's caricature combines wit with seriousness, satirically sharpening the fear of social regression. The clear visual language and Basile's expressive posture let the viewer feel his fear directly.
Technique
For this print Daumier chose lithography on newsprint, a common process for caricatures in mass-circulation papers. The second of two states is present (Delteil), suggesting the printing plate was reworked. The monochrome rendering in gray tones uses shading to create depth and a sense of volume.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)