Turgot: –Eh, well, my poor Count, it appears that they borrow my name as they have taken yours for the sake of creating the sign of a shop, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, October 7, 1867
October 7, 1867
Medium
Lithograph on newsprint; second state of two (Delteil)
Dimensions
Image: 10 3/16 × 7 13/16 in. (25.8 × 19.8 cm) Sheet: 14 3/16 × 11 5/16 in. (36 × 28.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Harry G. Friedman, 1960
Accession Number
60.708.119
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the sharp-witted world of 19th-century French satire with Honoré Daum lithograph *Turgot: –Eh, well, my poor, it appears that they my name as they have yours for the sake of the sign of a shop published in *Le Charari* on October , 1867. Daumier, a master caricaturist and key figure in Realism, produced thousands of such prints for this influential satirical newspaper, using his bold, expressive style to skewer politicians, society, and the bourgeoisie during France's Second Empire. This second-state lithograph on newsprint captures a humorous dialogue between historical figure Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot—a famed 18th-century reformer—and a count, lamenting how their names are being co-opted for a shop sign. It reflects the era's cultural fascination with celebrity and commerce, poking fun at how public figures' legacies were commodified amid rapid urbanization and press freedom struggles under Napoleon III's censorship. Daumier's lithography technique allowed for rapid production and mass distribution, making his critiques accessible to everyday readers. Printed on affordable newsprint (image 10 3/16 × 7 13/16 in.), this work exemplifies how prints democratized art and satire, now preserved at The Metropolitan Museum of Art thanks to a 1960 gift. A timeless reminder of humor's power in holding authority to account!
About the Artist
Honoré Daumier|Destouches|Arnaud de Vresse · 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...