Evening star., 1960-04-03

OF Cne court ana, from mem.
ory. modelled in clay the
heads Of various members.
He captured trenchently such
characteristics as pompoSity,
pride, disdain, indifference,
malice and craftiness. The
little heads are very much
alive. They depict a repre-
hensible crowd to have had
power; 1t Is not surprising
that it was abused. Several
other sculptures include Dau-
mier's compassionate bas-
relief "Emigrants" and the
legendary rascal he invented
and named "Ratapoil."
Daumier's complete disen-
chantment with the laws in
terpreters is Just as wildly
demonstrated in his series Of
80 Autographs Of lawyers,
one Of the many series he
made, represented in the
large collection Of his litho-
graphs on view at the Ma
tional Gallery. Daumier was
q Titan in his mastery of
lithography, his use Of it was
instructive, enabling him to
give all his attention to what
he had to say. and to turn
out q volume Of work for
Paris newspapers which has
not been equaled by any
printmaker before or since.
In about four decades Of his
career. beginning in 1928, he
made more than 1000 litho-
graphs, also about 1000
woodcuts, Gillotypes "a few
are included in the current
show as well as wash draw
ings. oil paintings and sculp-
lures.
Political Satire
In the current selection
are examples of his biting
political satire, and many
more of social commentary.
to which he was forced to
turn after laws were passed
restricting freedom Of the
press: Current Topics"
Blue Stockings" !" "The Good
Bourgeois" and many others,
not a few of which are as ef-
fective today as they were q
century ago. Daumier was
a successful caricaturist be-
cause of his genius in seizing
upon an individuals salient
features, his insight into hu-
man nature and motives, and
his infinite capacity for in
dignation, coupled with q
sardonic sense Of humor.
He made other Autographs
dealing with situations, such
as the Rue Transnonain,"
Tin the current show con.
sidered by many critics as
his greatest work In the me-
dium. This tragic record Of
abuse Of power shows the
aftermath Of indiscriminate
slaughter Of all the residents
Of the house at No. IL Rue
Transnonain. by a company
of soldiers upon whom some
one in the building had fired.
Daumier's life and work
were one. He received hardly
enough to live on, was often
half starved, had no money
for travel or gayety. He made
his last cartoon when "a, and
with failing eyesight, moved
to a cottage in Valmondois,
where he could exist on a
pittance. But a year later, he
faced eviction for inability
to pay even his minimum
rent. Corot, successful and
financially secure, learned Of
Daumier's difficulties; he Sc
cretly purchased the cottage,
and with exquisite compre-
hension of Daumier's pride,
wrote him Tin part):
MY old comrade: I had a
little house for which I had
no use at Valmondois.
The idea came into my head
of offering it to you. I
have placed it in your name
at the notaries. It is not for
you that I'm doing this, 1t Is
merely to annoy your land
lord" There Daumier lived
in comparative security for
the last six years Of his life.
Through his caricatures he
participated in three revolu-
tions, and never ceased to
champion the cause Of the
little people" the submerged
millions. oppressed by those
In power. It was this, no