Those who are about to die, salute thee, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, September 2, 1870

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier's *Those who are about to die salute thee*, published in the satirical newspaper *Le Charari* on September , 1870, captures the grim irony of the Franco-Prussian War. title echoes the ancient Roman gladiators' fatal salute to the emperor—"Ave Caesar morituri te salut"—recast here to mock French soldiers facing probable doom. Printed amid the devastating Battle of Sedan (September 1–2), where Emperor Napoleon III surrendered to Prussian forces, this lithograph from the "News of the Day" series reflects Daumier's sharp social commentary on the war's futility and the regime's collapse. A master of lithography, Daumier used this affordable medium on newsprint to reach wide audiences quickly, producing dynamic, exaggerated compositions in multiple states for refinement. This second state (per Delteil catalog) features his signature style: bulky figures, expressive faces, and crowded scenes evoking chaos. Tags like "Firearms," "Men," and "Crowd" hint at a throng of armed soldiers, their salute a bitter parody of heroism amid national humiliation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957), this 10-by-8 7/8-inch image endures as a poignant artifact of 19th-century political caricature, blending dark humor with profound anti-war sentiment. Daumier's work reminds us how art can pierce the veil of propaganda in times of crisis.

About the Artist

Honoré Daumier · 1810–1879

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...