← Honoré Daumier

Plate 23: Robert Macaire, Professor of Industry, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires

Original title: Plate 23: Robert Macaire, Professor of Industry, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

1838

Medium

Lithograph on wove paper; third state of three (Delteil)

Dimensions

Image: 8 1/16 × 10 15/16 in. (20.4 × 27.8 cm) Sheet: 10 3/16 × 13 7/16 in. (25.9 × 34.1 cm)

Credit line

Gift of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1953

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier's 1838 lithograph presents Robert Macaire as a self-styled 'Professor of Industry' addressing an audience. The print belongs to the 'Caricaturana' series and appeared in 'Les Robert Macaires'. It was printed in the third state on wove paper.

Description

A man in a long robe raises his right hand as if delivering a speech. On a table before him lie a book and a scroll. To the right, several listeners in contemporary dress sit attentively; other figures are suggested in the background. The speaker stands slightly left of center, while the audience occupies the right side—an asymmetrical arrangement. Monochrome in grayscale, the light is evenly distributed without strong shadows. The style is caricatural, with exaggerated facial features and gestures.

Context

The character Robert Macaire emerged in the 1830s as a satirical embodiment of the unscrupulous businessman and charlatan. For the 'Caricaturana' series, Daumier collaborated with the writer Charles Philipon, who provided the texts. From 1836, the lithographs were published in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari'. The portrayal of the 'Professor of Industry' critiques the world of industry and business during the July Monarchy, marked by speculation and fraud.

Impact

Through caricatural exaggeration, the lithograph is immediately comic and revealing. The speaker's gestures and the exaggerated faces of the listeners create an ironic distance from the educational pretension depicted. The clear line work and sparing use of shading draw attention to the central figure and his theatrical pose.

Technique

The lithograph on wove paper relies on a printing process that uses the repulsion of grease and water on limestone. Daumier employed fine hatching and contrasts to model faces and clothing. The print is in the third state and shows the artist's characteristic line work, suggesting a quick, confident drawing.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)