Author(s):
wattier, émile charles (paris, 17–11–1800 - paris, 22–11–1868), designer-lithographer
engelmann, godefroy (mulhouse, 17–08–1788 - paris, 25–04–1839), engraver
other title: the conjugal ladder (title of the series)
production date: in 1824
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography, vellum paper
dimensions - artwork:
height: 33. 9cm
width: 25. 3cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 27cm
width: 19cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 40cm
description:
colored lithograph on wove paper. Marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
title of the work - above the image: "conjugal ladder"
caption - under the image: "6th descending rung / hate"
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: "wattier delt" / under the image on the right: "lith. De g. Engelmann" / under the caption on the right: "sazerac et duval editor passage de l'opéra staircase a". Iconographic description:
emile wattier suggests following the evolution of a couple, by establishing two series of eight illustrations – i. Illusions, ii. The realities - where each corresponds to a level, either ascending or descending, of a stage in the lives of the two lovers. Here, the artist depicts the situation of the couple which continues to deteriorate with “hate”. Both sitting with their backs to each other, the couple are arguing. Disgusted, the husband makes a gesture to push away his wife and her reproaches, folding in on himself, his knee crossed. The wife turns away, her eyes rolling to the sky, she makes an impatient gesture. She is wearing a hat with an egret and dressed in a long white and gold dress, the end of which trails on the carpet. Animals take the side of their masters. The dog, a spotted terrier which crouches behind, barks at a cat which, with its back rounded, hisses in the middle of a section of its mistress's dress. This theme, dear to balzac, is found in one of his first writings: the physiology of marriage. “but according to the characters of women, either they despise their husbands, by the very fact that they successfully deceive them; or they hate them, if they are upset by them; or they fall, towards them, into an indifference worse a thousand times than hatred. »
themes / subjects / places represented:
social subject, morals, couple, cat, dog
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal98. 206. Date: En 1824.
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