Damned flag! Impossible to get rid of the color, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"
Original title: Damned flag! Impossible to get rid of the color, from 'News of the day,' published in "Le Charivari"
kurzbeschreibung
A man struggles to wash a dark cloth in a barrel labeled 'BLANC DE LYS' — to no avail — in an 1872 lithograph by Honoré Daumier. The print appeared on March 2, 1872, in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari' as part of the series 'Actualités'.
Description
In the foreground, a man holds up a dark cloth while pressing it into a barrel marked 'BLANC DE LYS'. His face hovers between worry and amusement. The layout centers entirely on this single figure, while lines of text and strokes fill the background. The whole remains in black and white, drawn in Daumier's caricatural manner.
Context
This lithograph was made in 1872, shortly after the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune. In his caricature, Daumier addressed the political friction of the Third Republic, especially the opposition between monarchists and republicans. 'Blanc de Lys' refers to the white flag of the Bourbons, which royalist forces sought to reestablish. Daumier worked regularly for the satirical journal 'Le Charivari', where the print appeared.
Impact
Because the futile washing attempt is presented as an absurd action, an ironic distance from political events emerges. Everyday scene and political allusion interlock so that the image's message is immediately clear. The stylized stroke and the humorous caption heighten the satirical effect.
Technique
Executed as a lithograph on newsprint, the print exists in the second of two known states (Delteil). With this technique, Daumier achieved fine lines and rapid hatching characteristic of his caricatures. It was printed in black and white, as was customary for publication in a journal.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)