Plate 43: A man of sensitivity at the right price, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
Original title: Plate 43: A man of sensitivity at the right price, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1838 lithograph belongs to the 'Caricaturana' series, published in 'Les Robert Macaires'. The print presents three figures in an interior, with a dialogue from the series providing the background to the scene.
Description
A man in a jacket and trousers stands at the center, holding up a document as if about to speak. Facing him, a woman sits on a chair, her expression betraying surprise or dismay; behind her stands another female figure, her gaze fixed on the speaker. Curtains and a set table structure the room, and a French dialogue runs along the bottom edge. The rendering remains black and white, bringing out the details of figures and furnishings clearly.
Context
The 'Caricaturana' series falls in the era of the July Monarchy and addresses social types and societal ills. Daumier published the sheets in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari'; 'Les Robert Macaires' takes up the title character of a contemporary play, a rogue named Robert Macaire. The lithograph survives in the first of two states (Delteil).
Impact
The contrasts in the faces and the man's gestures give the sheet an immediate dramatic tension. Since the black-and-white technique rules out any effect of color, the satirical edge stands out and draws attention to the interplay of the figures.
Technique
Lithograph on wove paper, a process Daumier preferred for his caricatures. Fine hatching and a strong contrast of light and shadow reveal the hand characteristic of the artist in these years.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)