Plate 46: Theatrical agent, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
Original title: Plate 46: Theatrical agent, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
kurzbeschreibung
A bearded man in a long robe stands talking and gesturing with a book in his hand, while his companion on the right wears two hats at once — this is Honoré Daumier's 1838 lithograph, part of the 'Caricaturana' series and subtitled 'Spéculateur Dramatique'.
Description
Two men share a room. The one on the left, heavily bearded and dressed in a floor-length coat, holds a book and drives home his words with a sweep of the hand. The other, in darker clothes, clutches two hats and looks toward him. Behind them stand shelves marked with labels such as 'MABICU', 'VIAU DEVIL' and 'PALAIS ROY'. A lettered panel along the lower edge reads 'Spéculateur Dramatique' and a further line in French. The image is black and white, drawn with slender strokes.
Context
Made in Paris in 1838, the print appeared in the 'Caricaturana' series, published in 'Les Robert Macaires'. Daumier used the series for satirical jabs at society under the July Monarchy, above all at speculators and profiteers. The 'Theateragent' mocks the theatre business of the day, where middlemen were often seen as dubious dealers.
Impact
The contrast between the two figures catches the eye at once, and their postures and props — book and hats — create a busy, talkative mood. The precise linework brings out faces and the shelved backdrop with real liveliness. A smile comes almost automatically, since familiar roles of the theatre world are being gently skewered.
Technique
For his caricatures Daumier often turned to lithography on wove paper, as here. Delicate lines and hatching reproduce details such as expressions and shelving with accuracy. The black-and-white arrangement sharpens the tension between the people and their surroundings.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)