–It's the Apollo of the new opera. –Well, I had taken it for the statue of liberty, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, June 4, 1870

Art Historical Context

This satirical lithograph, published in the French newspaper *Le Charivari* on June 4, 1870, captures a witty exchange: "It's the Apollo of the new opera." "Well, I had taken for the Statue of Liberty Attributed to Honoré Daier alongside Arnaud de Vresse and Walterères, it exemplifies Daumier's mastery of caricature during a turbulent era. Printed on newsprint as the third state of three (per Delteil catalog), the modest 9 13/16 × 8 1/2 in. image was designed for quick, mass dissemination, poking fun at public perceptions amid France's cultural and political upheavals. The scene likely satirizes the grand Apollo statue crowning the Palais Garnier opera house—then under construction as a symbol of Second Empire opulence—mistaken by a bemused onlooker for the Statue of Liberty, a French gift to America proposed years earlier but not yet realized. Just months before the Franco-Prussian War erupted, *Le Charivari*'s biting commentary on society and monuments highlighted the era's blend of artistic ambition and nationalist fervor. Daumier's fluid lithography, with its expressive lines and exaggerated figures, amplified the humor, critiquing how everyday Parisians grappled with monumental symbols. As a print from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this work showcases the power of 19th-century satire to bridge high art and popular culture, inviting us to chuckle at history's mix-ups while reflecting on enduring icons like liberty and the arts.

About the Artist

Arnaud de Vresse|Honoré Daumier|Walter Frères (French|French|French) · 1808 |1800 |1856 –1879 |1900 |1870

French, Marseilles 1808–1879 Valmondois|Paris|