A goddess, but not proud at all, from 'Theater sketches,' published in Le Charivari, June 12, 1865
June 12, 1865
Medium
Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)
Dimensions
Image: 9 5/8 × 8 1/8 in. (24.4 × 20.7 cm) Sheet: 11 5/8 × 10 5/8 in. (29.5 × 27 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962
Accession Number
62.650.358
Tags
Art Historical Context
In this witty lithograph from Honoré Daumier's *Theater Sketches* series, published in the satirical French newspaper *Le Charivari* on June 12, 1865, a goddess is depicted "not proud at all." Daumier, a master of 19th-century caricature, a theatrical scene where divine grandeur meets everyday humility. The goddess, surrounded by men, appears comically deflated—perhaps mocking an actress's over-the-top portrayal or the absurdities of stage divinity in Second Empire France. *Le Charivari*, a hub for political and social satire, amplified Daumier's sharp commentary on society, theater, and human...
About the Artist
Honoré Daumier · 1810–1879
Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...