Baron Joseph de Podenas (1782-1851), Deputy 1833

Honoré Daumier crafted this painted clay bust of Baron Joseph de Podenas, a French deputy, sometime in the 19th century. Daumier exaggerates Podenas’ features to convey an emotional response. The heavy brow, bulbous nose, and pursed lips suggest a man of great seriousness, perhaps even stubbornness. Think of similar exaggerated features in ancient Roman portrait busts, where such features were meant to convey not just likeness but also character. Across time and cultures, the representation of power often involves emphasizing certain physical traits. Consider how, in some Renaissance portraits, a large nose was a sign of virility and strength. In Daumier’s hands, though, the exaggeration verges on caricature. It reflects a deeper, perhaps subconscious, societal critique of those in power. This bust is not merely a likeness; it’s a commentary on the nature of authority and the way we perceive those who wield it. The symbolic weight of the features pulls us into an emotional and psychological dialogue.