DISCOVERART

Honoré-Victorin Daumier

In Tangiers. “- Sublime Majesty... the Spanish are coming... in order to frighten them off I took the liberty to fully open your umbrella as a sign of your greatness! - Leave me alone with my umbrella, Belboul.... I would rather like to have an umbrella protecting me from their bullets,” plate 115 from Actualités

November 14, 1859
Lithograph in black on white wove paper
21.1 × 26.6 cm (8.3 × 10.5 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

In its original French, the caption of this caricature is a play on words that utilizes the similarity in sound between “parasol” and the phrase “pare-à-balle,” meaning “to ward off bullets.” Daumier never travelled outside of Europe, and he made little effort to depict the Moroccan sultan or his servants realistically. The sultan’s outfit is therefore inspired by sources such as Orientalist paintings by his friend Eugène Delacroix and descriptions of caliphs from the popular Arabian Nights .

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Honoré-Victorin Daumier

Two LawyersTwo LawyersThe Print CollectorThe Print CollectorExploiting friendship. “My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?,” plate 58 from CaricaturanaExploiting friendship. “My dear Alphonse, I've invited theseRobert: “- Well, well! My dear director... how's business?” Bertrand: “- Good, very good, I am quite content. Unfortunately we don't have a penny to continue! - Oh blast! - But an investor still owes us 200,000 Francs... and will come up for signature either tonight or latest tomorrow morning. - About time... I urgently need a new pair of boots,” plate 6 from Robert MacaireRobert: “- Well, well! My dear director... how's business?” Mr. Prune, plate 288 from Célébrités de la CaricatureMr. Prune, plate 288 from Célébrités de la Caricature“God! How I loved that fellow there!,” plate 16 from Caricatures Politiques“God! How I loved that fellow there!,” plate 16 from CaricatA Victim of His Own Politeness, plate 7 from Croquis MusicauxA Victim of His Own Politeness, plate 7 from Croquis MusicauA Candidate. “Who do you want?... An upright, conscientious, sober man, an industrialist, a man who doesn't need the government to enrich himself, a man familiar with the law, who knows it well, through practice, very long practice... a long practice of law... you can't choose any better than... my honorable friend,” plate 48 from CaricaturanaA Candidate. “Who do you want?... An upright, conscientious,

More like this

Ohé...les navigateurs...débarquez sans crainte..., from Croquis d'Été, published in Le Charivari, September 10, 1856Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier|Destouches — Ohé...les navigatWine harvest in Argenteuil, from 'Autumn sketches,' published in Le Charivari, September 21, 1865Destouches|Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier — Wine harvest in AFranse officier in gesprek met een Arabische krijgerNicolas Toussaint Charlet — Franse officier in gesprek met eShe Lov’d Me for the Dangers I Had Pass’d, plate 3 (act 1, scene 3) from Othello,Théodore Chassériau — She Lov’d Me for the Dangers I Had PasBacha de Caramanie, plate seven from Caravanne du Sultan à la MecqueJoseph Marie Vien, I — Bacha de Caramanie, plate seven from Mounted Mameluke Chieftain Calling for AidBaron Antoine Jean Gros — Mounted Mameluke Chieftain CallingComment..., flots impudents!... vous ne savez donc pas qui vous portez en ce moment,...., from Émotions Nautiques, published in Le Charivari, October 26, 1859Destouches|Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier — Comment..., flotsI don't like the appearance of this gentleman at all!, from 'On the train,' published in Le Charivari, August 26, 1864Destouches|Honoré Daumier|Aaron Martinet — I don't like the Un parasol dans une position difficule., from Actualités, published in Le Charivari, November 25, 1859Destouches|Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier — Un parasol dans uTurgot: –Eh, well, my poor Count, it appears that they borrow my name as they have taken yours for the sake of creating the sign of a shop, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, October 7, 1867Honoré Daumier|Destouches|Arnaud de Vresse — Turgot: –Eh, weThere's a strange one..., from 'The landscape painters,' published in Le Charivari, December 9, 1864Aaron Martinet|Honoré Daumier|Destouches — There's a strangeHow curious, he doesn't seem to be very happy taking his vacation, from 'News of the day,' published in Le Charivari, August 13, 1866Arnaud de Vresse|Destouches|Honoré Daumier — How curious, he