La caricature politique ： Honoré Daumier

January 12, 1979
This program, presented by Marie Thérèse Prunier, with the participation of Jean Cherpin, a Marseilles publisher and Daumier specialist, retraces Daumier's life within its political and historical context. It is illustrated with period documents, drawings by the caricaturist, and short dramatized sequences. In 1979, Marseille celebrated the bicentenary of Honoré Daumier's death. This report explores the caricaturist through three periods of his career. - 1830-1848: Between 1830 and 1835, Daumier contributed to Charles Philipon's newspaper, La Caricature, denouncing through satirical drawings the hypocrisy and arrogance of the bourgeoisie and that of King Louis-Philippe (the pear). After the laws of September 1835, one of which abolished freedom of the press, La Caricature ceased publication, but Charles Philipon's second newspaper, Le Charivari (founded in 1832), survived. From 1835 to 1848, Daumier produced only social caricatures. From 1848 to 1852, the advent of the Republic restored freedom of the press; Daumier's style evolved. His new gallery of portraits, less ferocious, was more cheerful and frankly humorous. Soon the Republic was threatened, and Daumier created Ratapoil, a symbol of electoral corruption and a representative of the Bonapartist party's dubious methods. His favorite target was Adolphe Thiers, depicted 111 times, whom he accused of wanting, once again, to suppress freedom of the press. In 1852, the Empire was established. Daumier remained silent for 18 years. - 1870-1872: Daumier is given the floor and uses it against those responsible for the war, Wilhelm I and Bismarck. He illustrates the international situation with a series of symbolist and lyrical drawings. Archival footage from the INA (National Audiovisual Institute)