Artwork
Ils voudraient éteindre jusqu'au soleil
Ils voudraient éteindre jusqu'au soleil is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumée’s lithograph titled *Ils voudraient éteindre jusqu’au soleil* presents a whimsical tableau in which two exaggerated figures grapple with a sun that bears a human face and emits radiant beams. The composition is rendered in the stark contrasts typical of black‑and‑white printmaking, emphasizing the absurdity of the struggle.
Subject & Meaning
The central action—two caricatured characters attempting to smother the sun—functions as a visual metaphor for attempts to suppress illumination, both literal and intellectual. Inscribed slogans such as “LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE” surround the scene, explicitly linking the image to a satirical commentary on press censorship and a plea for journalistic freedom.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, Daumée employed the stone‑based process that allows for fluid line work and tonal variation. The artist’s characteristic exaggeration of facial features and bodily proportions heightens the comic tone, while the stark chiaroscuro achieved through ink on paper underscores the tension between light and darkness.
Context
Created during a period of heightened political tension in 19th‑century France, the print reflects contemporary debates over the role of the press under regimes that frequently imposed restrictions. Daumée’s work aligns with his broader oeuvre of social satire, using humor to critique authority and champion civil liberties.
Legacy
While not as widely reproduced as some of Daumée’s other prints, this lithograph remains a telling example of his engagement with political issues through caricature. It continues to be cited in studies of visual protest and the history of press freedom, illustrating how graphic art can serve as a vehicle for dissent.
Artist & collection
Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.
