The Charlie Hebdo Assassinations

There is no shortage of death and killing in our world. There are although; those killings and deaths that are more senseless, more heinous, and somehow, more disastrous. The attack on the cartoonist and publishers of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo early this week were such killings. The French citizens and free nations around the world are in shock and mourning of this unthinkable tragedy that transpired in Paris. In a world where such deaths are ever increasing people of good faith; believers of personal and civil liberty, inalienable rights and freedom; particularly, freedom of expression are shocked and appalled. This is certainly because we refuse to accept the brutality, hate and total disregard by the few who would deny the right to express opinion and views different from their own and those views that even we ourselves do not hold or believe. We do mourn, we are shaken, we can even be confused but we will not bow. The citizens of  Paris and all who cherish life and freedom will return stronger and with a greater will to survive, to debate and yes; to satirize the ignorant and misguided who kill the seekers of truth through the power of humor and that of the pen. 

As of this writing thousands have covered the streets and avenues of Paris in respect and reverence for their slain countrymen. The offices of Charlie Hebdo will publish on time and schedule the next issue of their weekly. It will be an expanded and astonishing million copy release. The voices of freedom sing out ever louder, ever stronger.  The suspects (murderers) have received their self-ordained fates. They will not kill again.

Expressions of defiance, regret, consolation and unity were posted and printed from the first moments that the news of the events at Charlie Hebdo were made public. This; sadly was not the first attack on Charlie Hebdo and may not be the last. But again; we stand firmly in support. Editorial cartoonist in particular expressed their heart-felt and stinging messages from Paris and around the globe in remarkable, relentless fashion. Some of the best are on view here. Je Suis Charlie. 

The Social Critique and Satire of Daumier

 

                                                 

      

 Honore Daumier has been part of the “Canon” forever; it seems he was possibly born into it, an artist’s artist, his own pinnacle. Daumier was a painter, sculptor and lithographer. Most importantly he was a social satirist of the highest order. The numbers he acquired are staggering; 4,000 lithographs, 1,000 each of drawings and wood engravings, 500 paintings and 100 sculptures. An impressive feat for an artist of any era. Daumier was to be influential for generations. 

 The artist to immediately follow him, especially those to study and work in France including Lautrec, Manet, Degas and the young Picasso show his influence. The works of many American cartoonist and illustrators including Brad Holland, Jules Feiffer, Pat Oliphant, Chuck Jones and Tim Burton are testament to the Daumier wit and style. The Daumier legacy is rich, there wonderful elements to his imaginings and his technique was sound.

 

 

 

 

 

Daumier’s work can be viewed as both High and Low Art. His subjects also were high and low; the bourgeois, the working/poor classes, government leaders, and especially judges and lawyers were targets of his satire. He reported the worlds he inhabited and the art world connoisseurs and critics were not lost to his efforts, they are represented by Daumier with the same virtuosity and vigorous vanity. His lines were graceful, elegant and grand.  

 

 The works are beautiful to behold and equal to the test of time and scrutiny. He was imprisoned briefly for a scathing remorseless depiction of the king titled “Gargantua.” This incarceration failed to soften his social critiques. Daumier would continue to work and spared no one; creating brilliant things throughout his life until his eventual loss of sight.

 

 

 

 Ironically it was a year before his death that he would be recognized for his masterful and original paintings. France has given the world many greats. Daumier…decidedly, dangerously dissident!