Artwork
L'éclipse sera-t-elle totale?
L'éclipse sera-t-elle totale? is a print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
L'éclipse sera-t-elle totale? is a 1871 print by Honoré Daumier, created using the gillotage technique on newsprint. This medium allowed for mass production and dissemination of the artist's commentary.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a dark landscape dominated by a large, shadowy bull's head with 'LIBERTÉ' scrawled on it. A pointing hand draws attention to the bull, symbolizing the artist's republican and democratic views in the context of the Second French Empire's collapse.
Technique & Style
The gillotage process, used here on newsprint, resulted in a rough, sketch-like appearance. This technique was a cost-effective way to produce and distribute prints, aligning with Daumier's practice as a satirical printmaker for newspapers like La Caricature and Le Charivari.
Context
Produced in 1871, the print reflects the tumultuous period following the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870. Daumier's work critiqued the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy, using caricature to convey his commentary.
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.
