New Year's presents for 1868, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, December 23, 1867
December 23, 1867
Medium
Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)
Dimensions
Image: 9 9/16 × 8 3/16 in. (24.3 × 20.8 cm) Sheet: 11 3/8 × 9 5/8 in. (28.9 × 24.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1936
Accession Number
36.12.43
Tags
Art Historical Context
Honoré Daumier, the masterful French caricaturist of the 19th century, created *New Year's Presents for 1868* as a lithograph for the satirical newspaper *Le Charari*'s "News of the" series. Published on December 23, 7, this timely print captures the festive yet biting humor of the season amid Second Empire France, where Daumier skewered bourgeois society, politics, and everyday absurdities. Printed on newsprint in the second state of two (as cataloged by Delteil), its modest dimensions—about 9½ by 8 inches—belied its sharp social commentary, featuring men and women in exaggerated poses that p...
About the Artist
Honoré Daumier|Destouches|Arnaud de Vresse · 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...