Plate 41: Robert Macaire, architect, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
Original title: Plate 41: Robert Macaire, architect, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike the other plates in the 'Caricaturana' series, this 1838 lithograph by Honoré Daumier casts the rogue Robert Macaire as an architect. The black-and-white print on wove paper belongs to that series and targets the building and speculation deals of the July Monarchy.
Description
Two figures stand at the front: on the left, Robert Macaire in a top hat and dark suit, holding a paper; on the right, a companion also in a top hat and long coat, with a large rolled plan. Behind them, a building site is suggested, where a man works on a ladder and part of a building comes into view. The layout feels symmetrical, the light evenly distributed. Below the image are the caption 'Robert Macaire architecte' and a dialogue that reproduces a conversation about building projects.
Context
Daumier invented the figure of Robert Macaire as a satirical embodiment of the unscrupulous businessman; he first appeared in 1836 in the journal 'Le Charivari'. With the 'Caricaturana' series, Daumier lashed out at corruption and speculation in the society of the July Monarchy. This lithograph falls in a phase of rapid urban building projects in Paris, often driven by shady entrepreneurs. Daumier used the figure to denounce abuses in the construction industry and the greed of the bourgeoisie.
Impact
The caricature is immediately comic through the exaggerated proportions and the self-assured posture of the figures. At the same time, an ironic tension arises from the contrast between the elegantly dressed protagonists and the rough building site. The viewer is prompted to reflect on the moral abysses of speculating.
Technique
The print was executed as a lithograph on wove paper, a printing process widely used at the time. Daumier worked with chalk on the stone, which allowed fine shading and expressive lines. The edition was probably handled by Aubert's press, known for its high-quality caricatures.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)