Henri-Alfred Darjou, Panthéon Charivarique, Lithograph, Mid-19th Century

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French caricature print from the satirical series Panthéon Charivariqure ,published in the humoristic illustrated newspaper Le Charivari, realized by Alfred … Read more French caricature print from the satirical series Panthéon Charivariqure ,published in the humoristic illustrated newspaper Le Charivari, realized by Alfred Darjou (1832 – 1874) in the mid-19th Century. This is a caricature portrait of a contemporary figure, exaggerated with a large head and prominent nose, dressed in theatrical Renaissance-style costume with puffed sleeves, short pants, and a plumed hat. Such prints often mocked public figures—politicians, writers, actors, or other celebrities of the time—by depicting them in comically distorted forms. Beneath the image is a short humorous text (common in these prints) satirizing the depicted figure. The text here alludes to the person’s behavior or reputation, though it is partly obscured in the photo. The work bears the French “Timbre royal” stamp (bottom right), indicating it was officially approved for publication. Not signed. The Panthéon Charivarique series compiled caricatures of notable contemporary figures as a kind of humorous “pantheon.” This approach to satire was typical of the French press in the mid-1800s, when caricature was a popular form of social and political commentary. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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