Who will shoot down the Republic? –Gentlemen, this mark is too high for you to be able to reach it!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 26, 1872
Original title: Who will shoot down the Republic? –Gentlemen, this mark is too high for you to be able to reach it!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, February 26, 1872
kurzbeschreibung
Two figures take aim with a stick and a bow at a Republic statue perched high on a pole—and hit nothing. Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1872, published in Le Charivari on February 26, mocks the political attacks on the young Third French Republic.
Description
Two men in old-fashioned garb stand ready: one swings a stick, the other draws a bow. Their target is a stylized crowned figure enthroned atop a long pole. Exaggerated faces and gestures define the cartoonish style, while the background remains empty except for a few clouds. Below the image reads: 'QUI ABAT LA RÉPUBLIQUE?... Trop haut, ce but là, messieurs, pour que vous l'atteigniez!'
Context
After the Franco-Prussian War and the fall of the Second Empire, the Third French Republic was still young and under pressure, especially from monarchists. Daumier, known for his political satires, published this print in the Paris daily Le Charivari. The caricature reflects the Republic's shaky position and the attempts of royalist forces to bring it down.
Impact
The exaggerated figures and ironic caption make the attackers look ridiculous. The target's high placement makes toppling it impossible and heightens the comic effect: the impotence of those who want to eliminate the Republic is exposed.
Technique
The print was produced as a lithograph on newsprint—a common technique for political caricatures in the 19th century. This is the second state of two (Delteil), indicating a reworking of the printing plate. The black-and-white execution is typical of lithography and emphasizes the clear contours and shading of the figures.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)