Artwork
Robert Macaire Bookseller
Robert Macaire Bookseller is a print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
It was published in a magazine called Le Charivari, which was known for its satire.
You see a man standing behind a counter, surrounded by books and papers.
He's a bookseller, and the scene looks like it's from everyday life.
The man is Robert Macaire, a character from a series of prints.
This print is part of a series that pokes fun at everyday people.
It was published in a magazine called Le Charivari, which was known for its satire.
Check out the work of artist Honoré Daumier (French, 1808–1879) for more like this.
Overview
This print, titled Robert Macaire Bookseller, is part of the Caricaturana series, published in Le Charivari on November 26, 1836, as plate 14. It depicts a everyday scene of a bookseller, Robert Macaire, behind a counter amidst books and papers.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Robert Macaire, is a recurring character in a series of satirical prints, here portrayed in a mundane setting as a bookseller. The image satirizes ordinary individuals, using Macaire's character to poke fun at everyday people.
Technique & Style
Created by French artist Honoré Daumier (1808–1879), the print exemplifies his characteristic style, likely featuring bold lines and expressive forms typical of his caricatural approach.
History & Provenance
Originally published in the satirical magazine Le Charivari in 1836, this print is the 14th plate in the Caricaturana series, reflecting the magazine's penchant for social commentary.
Context
Part of a broader series featuring Robert Macaire, this work is contextualized within Daumier's oeuvre of satirical prints targeting various aspects of French everyday life during the 19th century.
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.
