Plate 7: Ladies and gentlemen!, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
Original title: Plate 7: Ladies and gentlemen!, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many sheets in the Caricaturana series, this 1838 lithograph by Honoré Daumier puts a speaker front and center, delivering an address to an audience in flamboyant attire and clutching a parchment scroll. The work belongs to the Caricaturana series and appeared in Les Robert Macaires. It is executed as a color lithograph on wove paper, preserved in the third of three states.
Description
A man in a yellow vest, red trousers, white shirt, and cap stands at the center, grasping a parchment scroll and striking a lively oratorical pose. Several onlookers in hats and jackets surround him; their expressions range from curiosity to skepticism. Buildings in the background suggest an urban setting. Below the image, a line of text delivers a joking punchline that refers to the scene. The tones are strong, and the light falls evenly—as is typical for lithographs of this era.
Context
The Caricaturana series emerged against the backdrop of the July Monarchy in France, when Daumier sharpened social and political types into satire. Robert Macaire, a figure also appearing in Les Robert Macaires, was a well-known villain representing charlatanism and speculation. Daumier drew for the satirical journal Le Charivari, where such sheets were first published. Lithography was a key medium for political and social caricature in the nineteenth century.
Impact
Exaggerated proportions and vivid color make the print immediately comic and critical at once. The speaker's dynamic pose and the varied reactions of the listeners create a narrative tension that draws the viewer into the scene. Daumier's drawing style combines precision with an almost sketch-like ease that heightens the satirical tone.
Technique
The color lithograph was printed on wove paper; it exists in the third of three states, indicating careful reworking of the printing plate. The lithographic process allowed Daumier to combine fine lines with flat areas of color—a combination well suited to caricature. The colors were applied in several printing passes to achieve the strong tones of the clothing and the even lighting.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)