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1830 and 1833, 1833
Honoré Daumier (French, 1808–1879)
Lithograph on wove paper
Gift of Mrs. Wyncie King 1962.17.2
ADOPTED
Do you think he looks so grumpy because of the poor condition of this print? Daumier was the master of political and social satire. In this original lithograph, he shows the transformation of the French king Louis-Philippe between 1830, when he was crowned, and three short years later, as he became increasingly fat, controlling, and disliked. The distressed vertical line separating the two portraits of the king shows where the paper was folded in the past. The crease weakened paper fibers, and the sheet suffered tears surface abrasions. Notice the mirrored water stains on the left and right; the paper became wet while it was folded. The paper is dirty and spotted with foxing overall, and remnants of old linen tape hinges are stuck along the top. The conservator will wash the sheet to reduce staining, remove the old tape, and mend the tears with Japanese tissue. While Louis-Philippe may still look grumpy, the print will look much better!
