Caricature of Louis Marie de la Haye, Vicomte de Cormenin (alias Timon)

About this artwork

This caricature depicts Louis Marie de la Haye, Vicomte de Cormenin, who wrote under the pseudonym Timon, and was created in 1859 by Hippolyte Mailly with attribution to Nadar (Gaspard-Félix Tournachon). The work represents the tradition of political caricature that flourished in mid-19th century France. The drawing employs black chalk on brown paper to create a satirical portrait emphasizing distinctive facial features and expression characteristic of caricature art. The subject, Cormenin (178...

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of mid-19th-century French, this 1859 drawing by Hippolyte Mailly, to the renowned Nadar (Gaspard-Félix Tournachon), captures Louis Marie la Haye, Vicomte de Cormenin—better known by his biting pseudonym Timon. Cormenin (1788–1868), a liberal politician, jurist, and pamphleteer, skewered government corruption under Napoleon III's Second Empire his sharp critiques, drawing inspiration from the misanthropicon of ancient lore and Shakespeare. Such satirical portraits thrived in this era of political tension, poking fun at the powerful through exaggerated features and wry expressions. Crafted in black chalk on brown paper—a technique ideal for tonal subtlety and bold linework—the modest 7 1/16 x 5 3/8-inch sheet exemplifies preparatory sketches often destined for lithographic prints. Nadar, famed for his pioneering photography and portraits of Parisian luminaries, bridged art and activism in his circle of writers and radicals, making Cormenin a perfect, prickly subject. Today, this gifted treasure at the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a window into France's satirical spirit, reminding us how art wielded wit as a weapon against authority.