A Naval Combat. “- So, you insulted my flag!.... just you wait, just wait till I'll sink you with a broad side!..... or even better I'll splash you with water from left and right and behind and....” plate 20 from Les Canotiers Parisiens
Medium
Lithograph in black on ivory wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 24.8 × 21.6 cm (9 13/16 × 8 9/16 in.); Sheet: 34.1 × 26.4 cm (13 7/16 × 10 7/16 in.)
Classification
lithograph
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141923
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In the bustling satirical world of 19th-century Paris, Honoré Daumier captured the pretensions of the bourgeoisie with sharp wit in his lithograph *A Naval Combat* (1843), plate 20 from the series *Les Caniers Parisiens*. This print depicts a mock "naval battle" among Parisian boating enthusiasts—likely rowers in small canoes—who inflate their leisurely pastime into epic warfare. The bombastic dialogue, "So, you insulted my!... just you wait, till I'll sink you with a broadside!... or even better, I'll splash you with water from left and right and behind," pokes fun at their over-the-top bravado, turning a simple splash fight into a grand naval showdown. Daumier, a master caricaturist active during France's July Monarchy, used lithography—a revolutionary printing technique invented in 1798—to produce affordable, mass-distributed social commentary for journals like *Le Charivari*. His bold black lines on ivory wove paper, measuring about 9 13/16 × 8 9/16 inches, exaggerate facial expressions and dynamic poses, embodying the Romantic era's caricature style while critiquing urban leisure culture amid rapid industrialization. Held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, this work highlights Daumier's enduring legacy: over 4,000 lithographs that skewered hypocrisy, making high art accessible and entertaining for everyday viewers. A delightful glimpse into 1840s Parisian frivolity!
About the Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier · 1808–1879
Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...