Artwork
Successeur de Charlemagne
Successeur de Charlemagne 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
Successeur de Charlemagne is a 1871 print by Honoré Daumier, created using gillotage on newsprint. It exemplifies the artist's use of printmaking for political commentary.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a regal figure on a throne, holding a key and globe, surrounded by clocks ticking at different times. The clocks may symbolize the figure's waning power or time running out, critiquing authority through satire.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed simple lines and bold shapes to convey his message, characteristic of his satirical style. The gillotage technique allowed for mass production, making his commentary widely accessible.
Context
The work reflects Daumier's long-standing engagement with France's shifting political landscape, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second Empire in 1870.
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.
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