Mr. Prudhomme: – My son, salute this monument..., from L'Exposition Universelle
Original title: Mr. Prudhomme: – My son, salute this monument..., from L'Exposition Universelle
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier made this lithograph in 1855 for the Paris World's Fair. Printed on thin Japan paper in black and white, the sheet shows an older gentleman leading his son past a monumental building.
Description
An elderly man with spectacles holds his top hat in his hand, while a younger man stands beside him with a sign. Behind them rises a vast structure reminiscent of the Palais de l'Industrie. The figures are drawn with detailed linework and strong shading. Along the top edge one reads the inscription 'L'EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE' together with the number '4'; below, French dialogue is printed as a caption.
Context
The lithograph was occasioned by the Exposition Universelle of 1855, the first world's fair on French soil. Daumier, known for his political and social caricatures, here targets bourgeois self-satisfaction in the face of architecture that celebrated industrial progress. Mr. Prudhomme, a stock figure Daumier used repeatedly, embodies the narrow-minded bourgeois who urges his son to patriotic reverence.
Impact
The stiff pose and ironic caption together create a comic, debunking edge. Clear lines and dark contrasts give the print a graphic sharpness that carries the satirical message.
Technique
The sheet was printed as a lithograph on thin Japan paper, specifically a proof of the second state of two. The lithographic process allows fine shading and a detailed rendering of figures and background.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)