A hunter is shooting at a canary in the street and scaring his neighbors. Contains a play on words: the French word "serin" meaning canary and also fool. LA CHASSE (Hunting) is a series of 28 lithographs, which appeared in two different periods: 16 prints were published between September 1836 and April 1837 in the Charivari. 12 prints were published between September 1843 and January 1844 in the Charivari, of which plate numbers 2, 4 and 5 had already previously appeared in La Caricature (2nd series). The prints of this series were used in various different publications. Once they were published under the title "LA CHASSE", another time, in 1840 under "CHASSE ET PÊCHE". Some copies were added to the album "CHAOS" and "LA NOUVELLE LANTERNE MAGIQUE". The prints should be seen as liberal "copies" of hunting scenes, which had been published during the same period by the British caricaturist Robert Seymour (1798-1836). Although these lithographs by Daumier are considered of average quality, their success with the public lead to repeated editions in 1840 and 1845. In 1830 hunting legally ceased to be the prerogative of the aristocratic classes. Parisian bourgeoisie immediately took to the new fancy and engaged in hunting around the forests and countryside of Paris. A new “fashion” was born and members of the Parisian middle class developed a hitherto unknown snobbism and passion for this sport. Deyeux even wrote a poem called “La Chassomanie”. By 1860, some 155’000 hunting licenses had been issued, while one estimated that some 450’000 poachers were actively involved in hunting and fishing. While in the beginning of 1836 some 6’000 hunters were caught hunting without a license, this number increased substantially to 21’000 hunters fined for poaching in 1860.
Copyright restrictions may apply. For permission to copy or use this image, contact the Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University Libraries. The following credit line must be included with each item used: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman Collection of Honoré Daumier Lithographs, Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.
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Place of origin:
Paris
Notes:
1st state.
Published in: Le Charivari, April 11, 1837.
Notes (acquisition):
Donated by: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman, 1959.
