Un Jour de 1ère Représentation

Executed in lithography, the image relies on the artist’s direct drawing on a limestone surface, allowing for fluid lines and bold tonal contrasts. Daumée’s characteristic use of caricature—overstated gestures and distorted faces—creates a lively, almost theatrical quality, while the limited palette of black and white emphasizes the composition’s comedic timing.

Created during Daumée’s prolific period of social satire in the 1850s, the print was likely issued as part of a series commenting on contemporary Parisian life. Original impressions have circulated among private collectors and institutions specializing in 19th‑century French graphic art, though specific ownership records for this particular sheet remain limited.