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Gargantua |
Daumier shows us amateur print collectors, contrasted with more aristocratic art ‘connoisseurs’, uses scenes from classical mythology to mock politicians, illustrates Don Quixote, and reveals the spectacle which is off stage, rather than inherent to theatrical performance. His pictures are sometimes shocking (King Louis Philippe excreting papers, while gobbling the money of the poor), sometimes tender (the look shared by a laundress and child while crossing the Seine).
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Ecce Homo |
More than anything the collected pieces are brilliantly observed,
memorable and witty, even when they are hardly ‘fine’ art. Daumier worked from
memory, rather than models and, perhaps because of this, it is the city which emerges in full force of
character.
On Saturday afternoon, the exhibition was overcrowded, but
if you have the time this week, before it closes on the 26th, it’s
well worth a visit.
If you know of any other events or exhibitions dealing with
the nineteenth century in London over the next few months let me know here, on Facebook
or by tweeting @SVictorianist.
And there’s now under a week to go until voting closes in
the UK Blog Awards, so if you haven’t already, please take 2 minutes to VOTE
for the Secret Victorianist.
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