C'est l'apollon du nouvel opéra

Art Historical Context

**C'est l'apollon du nouvel opéra** (1870) is a sharp lithograph by Honoré Daumier, the masterful French caricaturist renowned for his biting social commentary. Created during the lavish Second Empire era under Napoleon III, this skewers the pretensions of the newly constructed Palais Garnier, Paris's opulent opera house. The title—"That's the Apollo of the new"—mockingly dubs a grandiose architectural feature as a modern god, highlighting the era's obsession with imperial splendor amid political and social tensions, including the looming Franco-Prussian War. Daumier's Realism-infused caricature style shines through his expressive lines and exaggerated forms, capturing bourgeois excess with wry humor. As a lithograph—a revolutionary 19th-century printing technique using greasy crayon on stone for intricate, reproducible detail—this work exemplifies how Daumier produced thousands of satirical prints for journals like *Le Charivari*. It democratized critique, reaching wide audiences and challenging the elite's self-aggrandizement. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Corcoran Collection (gift of Dr. Armand Hammer), this piece endures as a testament to Daumier's genius for blending artistry with activism, inviting us to chuckle at history's vanities while pondering timeless questions of culture and power.

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...