| On viewing images of a potentially disturbing nature: click here |
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| Massachusetts Institute of Technology © 2022 Visualizing Cultures 
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| On viewing images of a potentially disturbing nature: click here |
|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology © 2022 Visualizing Cultures
|
 |  After sharing wine with a Chinese man, a Frenchman tells him that wine is better than opium. In a drunken stupor the Frenchman tells the Chinese man that he will civilize him. Caption: “Eh! bien… camarade… est-ce que ça aut pas mieux que l'o… l'o… l'o… l'opium…. j'te ci…. ci… civiliserai… va!…!” Translation: “Hey! well …comrade … isn't that better than o … o … o … opium. … I'm here …. here … will civilize … go! …!” December 17, 1858 Read the complete text on the Brandeis University website Brandeis University [Daumier_1858-12-17] View in the Image Gallery |
 | Among the most often-reproduced images from the series are those dealing with opium. Here, a depraved-looking French officer forces opium upon a Chinese man as payment in lieu of cash. The caption reads, “Profitant de la circonstance, pour engager les Chinois á se payer pour deux cent millions d'opium...” Translation: “Taking advantage of the moment, to engage the Chinese to be paid two hundred million in opium...” December 29, 1858 Learn more on the Brandeis University website Brandeis University [Daumier_1858-12-29] View in the Image Gallery |
 | A French soldier feels confident that he is promoting trade as he watches a line of Chinese men smoking opium. Chinese exports were paid with opium imports with the intention to corrupt the Chinese society with drugs. Caption: “Passant la revue des fumeurs d'opium. (Histoire de faire aller le commerce.) ” Translation: “Passing the review of opium smokers. (History of making trade go.)” January 17, 1859 Read the complete text on the Brandeis University website Brandeis University [Daumier_1859-01-17] View in the Image Gallery |
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Caption: “Je voudrais pouvoir me faire promener comme ça dans les rues de Brest, on m'prendrait pour un mandarin!” Translation: “I would like to be able to be walked like that in the streets of Brest, I would be taken for a mandarin!” January 22, 1859 Learn more on the Brandeis University website Brandeis University [Daumier_1859-01-22] View in the Image Gallery |
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The proprietor of a liquor store mocks the two Chinese for collapsing after drinking only two bottles of wine. “So let's see, let's see friends ... two poor little bottles ... if you are not stronger than that on your legs ... I will not commit you to me any more pay to drink!” January 24, 1859 Read the complete text on the Brandeis University website Brandeis University [Daumier_1859-01-24] View in the Image Gallery |
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Caption: “Tiens, regarde cette caisse, elle renferme les envoyés Américains qui se rendent a Pékin!” Translation: “Here, look at this box, it contains the American envoys who are going to Beijing!” October 4, 1859 Learn more on the Brandeis University website Brandeis University [Daumier_1859-10-04] View in the Image Gallery |
On viewing images of a potentiallydisturbing nature: click here Massachusetts Institute of Technology © 2022 Visualizing Cultures |
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The following shows a sampling of lithographs from cartoonist Honoré Daumier’s second series on China. Titled “En Chine,” the series includes 27 prints published in Le Charivari between December 1858 and April 1860. “In these images, Daumier played with familiar 19th-century visual stereotypes that the French held about the Chinese and their culture. At the same time, many of the activities satirized by Daumier are typically French. Thus, in many respects, these prints convey more about 19th-century France than about China.” (“Through the Chinese Looking Glass,” exhibition at the Hammer Museum, 2004)
Scroll right to view images
from “En Chine.”
Warning: these period cartoons and caricatures can be offensive.
Images & text: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman Collection of Honoré Daumier Lithographs, Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University