Plate 42: Robert Macaire's boarding school, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
Original title: Plate 42: Robert Macaire's boarding school, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1838 color lithograph presents a satirical interior with two figures. It belongs to the 'Caricaturana' series and was printed as a color lithograph on wove paper; this is the third state of three (Delteil).
Description
Two men occupy a plain room: on the left, a dark-clad figure seems to be speaking with a gesture; on the right, a seated man in an armchair is also talking. Both have the exaggerated facial features typical of caricature. On the table between them lie a globe and books; a window and wall decorations are visible, and a bust stands on the right. The palette remains mostly muted, with only the seated man's red trousers providing an accent. At the bottom, a text panel contains a dedication and a poem.
Context
The 'Caricaturana' series was created in collaboration with the writer Charles Philipon, who supplied the accompanying texts. It mocked the unscrupulous businessman Robert Macaire, a character from an 1823 play who became a symbol of corruption and speculation during the July Monarchy. In 1838 the lithograph appeared in the satirical journal 'Les Robert Macaires', which took a critical look at the bourgeoisie and the social ills of the time.
Impact
The exaggerated facial features and contrasting colors make the print immediately comic and critical at once. The two talking figures create an atmosphere of hypocrisy and idle chatter that underscores the series' satirical spirit. The plain room with globe and books suggests an educational institution, whose authority is undermined by the caricatural depiction.
Technique
For the color lithograph on wove paper, the drawing is transferred to a stone and printed with several color plates. Sharp contours and flat areas of color are characteristic of Daumier's lithographic technique. The third state (of three) refers to the sequence of printing plates and shows the final, revised version of the print.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)