Honoré Daumier (1808-1879) - Lot 83

Honoré Daumier (1808-1879) Ah! you want to rub shoulders with the press! (La Caricature, pl. 319). 1833. Lithograph. 205 x 225. Delteil 71. Very fine proof on cream vellum. Some light foxing. A circular reddish stain at the foot of the right-hand leaf. Fine horizontal broken fold at left edge. Full margins. Ex-coll. E. Frapier (Lugt 2921a). "In 1830, after the 3 glorious [days of] July 27, 28 and 29, the constitutional charter initiated by Louis-Philippe proclaimed that "Citizens have the right to publish and have printed their opinions in compliance with the laws. Censorship can never be re-established". In the same year, Philipon founded the weekly La Caricature, with Daumier as its main cartoonist, followed by the daily Le Charivari (1832). Here, Louis-Philippe, whose legendary umbrella can be seen in the foreground, is pressed by a typographer avenging the threatened freedom of the press. This plate prefigures the famous lithograph "Ne vous y frottez pas!", published by L'Association mensuelle in March 1834." (essentiels.bnf.fr).