An Umbrella in a Difficult Position, plate 119 from Actualités
November 25, 1859
Medium
Lithograph in black on white wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 22.5 × 27.4 cm (8 7/8 × 10 13/16 in.); Sheet: 25.3 × 33 cm (10 × 13 in.)
Classification
lithograph
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
67121
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This caricature dates from the early days of the Spanish-Moroccan War, a conflict between the two countries that was initiated when Moroccan soldiers attacked a Spanish-held fort in Morocco. France offered its aid in retaliating, and Daumier saw this gesture as an absurd attempt to inspire French patriotism and gain international prominence. Here, the sultan of Morocco crouches alone under his umbrella as the masses of troops converge on him from both sides. These large, proudly labeled armies a...
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...