Plate 37: Exploitation of paternity, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
Original title: Plate 37: Exploitation of paternity, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
kurzbeschreibung
A younger person lays a hand on the arm of a stooped old man who leans on crutches. Honoré Daumier drew this scene in 1838 as a lithograph for the 'Caricaturana' series, published in 'Les Robert Macaires'.
Description
Two figures dominate the sheet: on the left, someone in formal dress touches the arm of an older man with crutches. The old man wears a cap, jacket and trousers, as was usual for elderly people of the time. The touch seems to offer comfort or support. A plain, dark background makes the figures stand out. Black-and-white chalk lines with gray gradations create contours and a sense of depth.
Context
The lithograph was made in 1838 as part of the 'Caricaturana' series, published in the satirical journal 'Les Robert Macaires'. Daumier used the series to expose social ills and to castigate the exploitation of relationships of trust in the French bourgeoisie. This impression is the second state of the lithograph (Delteil) and was printed on wove paper.
Impact
The caricatural exaggerations and the balanced arrangement of the figures give the sheet a humorous yet critical tone. The dark background draws the eye to the two figures and heightens the emotional tension between them.
Technique
The lithograph was printed on wove paper; it shows Daumier's characteristic line work with gray shading. This impression is the second of two states (Delteil) and measures 24.9 × 21.5 cm in the image area.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)