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Sight, plate 39 from Types Parisiens by Honoré-Victorin Daumier — VisualArtsDB

Sight, plate 39 from Types Parisiens

Sight, plate 39 from Types Parisiens

Honoré-Victorin Daumier

1839

Medium: Lithograph in black on white wove paper, with letterpress verso
Dimensions: Image: 20 × 22.8 cm (7 7/8 × 9 in.); Sheet: 25.1 × 37.4 cm (9 15/16 × 14 3/4 in.)
Genre: lithograph
Museum: Art Institute of Chicago

Tags

printprints and drawingpaper (fiber product)lithograph

About

A favorite of Daumier’s, this print is a play on traditional genre scenes, comically at odds with the sense it portrays. “Sight” is represented by a nighttime stroll alongside the River Seine, with Notre Dame emerging hazily from the darkness. The clearest object is the moon, represented by a curve of unmarked paper, in stark contrast with the heavily shaded image. The moon’s prominence only deepens the print’s irony: a crescent moon is traditionally a symbol that a husband has been cuckolded by his wife, suggesting that the man in the print cannot see what is right before his eyes.

More by Honoré-Victorin Daumier

Madame Greluche: “Oh, Gustave, how good! A real soothing warmth! Look at our son Loulou; the cute face he makes!” Mr. Greluche: "And Pyramus, he is afraid, afraid like a dog. If you only knew what he is doing right now, the little rascal,” plate 4 from Les Baigneurs

Madame Greluche: “Oh, Gustave, how good! A real soothing warmth! Look at our son Loulou; the cute face he makes!” Mr. Greluche: "And Pyramus, he is afraid, afraid like a dog. If you only knew what he is doing right now, the little rascal,” plate 4 from Les Baigneurs

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1839

A New Way to Float Down the River of Life, plate three from Les Canotiers Parisiens

A New Way to Float Down the River of Life, plate three from Les Canotiers Parisiens

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1843

“It is war! ...Everyone for himself!,” plate 460

“It is war! ...Everyone for himself!,” plate 460

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1835

"From your obedient subjects receive on your day of honor these two modest bunches of flowers. They will make you rejoice, since the people of France alone has taken over the costs," plate 486

"From your obedient subjects receive on your day of honor these two modest bunches of flowers. They will make you rejoice, since the people of France alone has taken over the costs," plate 486

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1835

At the Champs-Elysées. It has never been quite clear whether the music makes the beer go down, or the beer that makes you swallow the music, plate 3 from Croquis Musicaux

At the Champs-Elysées. It has never been quite clear whether the music makes the beer go down, or the beer that makes you swallow the music, plate 3 from Croquis Musicaux

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1852

“- How do you know that I am a widower? After twenty years of forced labour, not marriage, I am slowly starting to pull myself together again, and there you are, proposing me a second marriage! Ragoulet, would you please stop holding my hand!,” plate 10 from Vulgarités

“- How do you know that I am a widower? After twenty years of forced labour, not marriage, I am slowly starting to pull myself together again, and there you are, proposing me a second marriage! Ragoulet, would you please stop holding my hand!,” plate 10 from Vulgarités

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1841

Herbal Tea. “- Here you are, Monsieur, I thought I'd bring along the entire pack of hay so you can decide yourself about the strength of your tea,” plate 416 from Actualités

Herbal Tea. “- Here you are, Monsieur, I thought I'd bring along the entire pack of hay so you can decide yourself about the strength of your tea,” plate 416 from Actualités

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1857

(He is reading a letter) “A date, could it be from the cute Mme Giraud?? Yes, but it could also come from her husband who wants to pinch me…,” plate 8 from Coquetterie

(He is reading a letter) “A date, could it be from the cute Mme Giraud?? Yes, but it could also come from her husband who wants to pinch me…,” plate 8 from Coquetterie

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1840

The Dogs are Again Falling in Despair After Having Heard that There Will Be a New Dog Licence Tax After All, plate 171 from Actualités

The Dogs are Again Falling in Despair After Having Heard that There Will Be a New Dog Licence Tax After All, plate 171 from Actualités

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1855

(He is reading a letter) “A date, could it be from the cute Mme Giraud?? Yes, but it could also come from her husband who wants to pinch me…,” plate 8 from Coquetterie

(He is reading a letter) “A date, could it be from the cute Mme Giraud?? Yes, but it could also come from her husband who wants to pinch me…,” plate 8 from Coquetterie

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1840

The Grenelle Wells. The director Mr. Mulot and his son finally reaching the end of their work, crossing their arms and putting their hands into their pockets and congratulating themselves that posterity will not be able to reproach them of not having produced clean water, plate 46 from Caricatures Du Jour

The Grenelle Wells. The director Mr. Mulot and his son finally reaching the end of their work, crossing their arms and putting their hands into their pockets and congratulating themselves that posterity will not be able to reproach them of not having produced clean water, plate 46 from Caricatures Du Jour

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1842

Meanwhile They Keep on Insisting that She Has Never Been Better, plate 183 from Actualités

Meanwhile They Keep on Insisting that She Has Never Been Better, plate 183 from Actualités

Honoré-Victorin Daumier, 1872