Paganini moderne ... c. 19th century

"Paganini moderne..., se brûlant le toupet dans le feu de l'exécution!" is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, dating back to the 19th century. Daumier was known for his satirical caricatures, and this artwork satirizes the famous violinist Niccolò Paganini. The image depicts a man, presumably Paganini, playing the violin with a passionate intensity, as if burning himself up in the heat of the performance. The lithograph's caption suggests that Paganini is so consumed by his music that he is sacrificing his own well-being for the sake of artistic expression. This work is a classic example of Daumier's social commentary, poking fun at the eccentricities and excesses of 19th-century Parisian society.