Plate 32: What in the devil Macaire!, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
Original title: Plate 32: What in the devil Macaire!, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires
kurzbeschreibung
Two men in bourgeois dress stand in a room that the caption identifies as a 'Bureau de Saisance'. Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1838 as part of the 'Caricaturana' series; the present sheet is the second of two states (Delteil), printed on wove paper. The image stages a dialogue between the two figures.
Description
The layout is symmetrical, with two frontally facing figures filling the middle. Hats, shirt and trousers suggest the get-up of doctors or officials. Arms and gestures imply a lively exchange. A plain background lets the figures stand out. Kept in monochrome greys, clear lines and hatching bring out the forms, and the light falls evenly from the front.
Context
The 'Caricaturana' series appeared between 1836 and 1838 and parodied the swindler Robert Macaire from a popular stage play. Daumier used it to attack corruption and the social rise of the bourgeoisie during the July Monarchy. The prints were published in the satirical journal 'Le Charivari'. The title 'Bureau de Saisance' is an ironic nod to an office of pleasure or welfare, which sharpens the satirical tone.
Impact
Exaggerated proportions and the direct frontality make the caricature immediate and funny. Because the image is pared down to essentials, the interaction between the figures comes to the fore and the satirical point stands out. The clear draughtsmanship gives it graphic punch.
Technique
Lithograph on wove paper: in this printing process the artist draws with a greasy crayon on a stone. The shading comes from strokes of varying density and direction. The present impression is the second state of the print, listed in the literature as Delteil 2.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)