It's quite impossible!!!, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, March 28, 1872
March 28, 1872
Medium
Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)
Dimensions
Image: 8 15/16 × 7 3/8 in. (22.7 × 18.8 cm) Sheet: 12 1/8 × 10 1/16 in. (30.8 × 25.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Harry G. Friedman, 1960
Accession Number
60.708.128
Tags
Art Historical Context
Honoré Daumier's *It's quite impossible!!!*, published in the satirical newspaper *Le Charivari* on March 28, 1872, captures the artist's sharp wit through lithography on newsprint. As a master of caricature during France's turbulent 19th century, Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, skewering politicians, the bourgeoisie, and everyday absurdities. This second-state impression, measuring about 9 by 7 inches, exemplifies his economical yet expressive style, with bold lines and exaggerated expressions that leap off the page. Printed amid the early Third Republic—following the Franco-Prussia...
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...