The Execrable Assassin Contemplates his Horrible Assault... 1832 - 1859

Charles-Joseph Traviès created this print of an assassin, with lithography and stumping techniques. The composition centres on the figure of the assassin, who is depicted from the waist up in a tightly framed oval of colour on an otherwise bare page. Traviès uses shading and light to create a sense of depth and to emphasize the texture of the assassin's clothing and facial features. The assassin's dark, brooding expression, combined with the crude weapon he is preparing, evokes a sense of unease. This emotional response is heightened by the asymmetry of his features, which challenge conventional ideals of beauty. The print reflects broader social and political tensions, with an interest in how art can challenge fixed meanings. Traviès uses the formal elements of the print to engage with contemporary debates about morality, justice, and the representation of criminality. The print destabilizes established categories of good and evil, inviting viewers to confront the complex realities of human behaviour.