Who painted 2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor?

2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1839.

Where can I see 2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor?

2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is 2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor?

2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of 2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor?

Museum-quality prints of 2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor

Honoré Daumier , 1839

2 heures - Le gouter d'Azor is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1839 lithograph titled 2 heures – Le goûter d’Azor presents a brief, everyday episode rendered for a popular newspaper audience. Executed on newsprint, the image captures two similarly dressed gentlemen, one holding a pear, accompanied by a small dog, in a quiet, informal setting that hints at leisurely middle‑class habits.

Subject & Meaning

The scene satirizes the idle comforts of the bourgeoisie, portraying a moment of casual refreshment that subtly critiques the social pretensions of the era. By focusing on ordinary details, a fruit, a pet, modest attire, Daumier underscores the self‑satisfaction of the emerging middle class while inviting viewers to question its values.

Technique & Style

Created through lithography, the work exploits the medium’s capacity for fine line work and tonal variation, giving the composition a textured, atmospheric quality despite the inexpensive paper. Daumier’s handling of light and shadow, together with his loose yet precise drawing, aligns the piece with the broader realist tendencies that followed Romanticism’s focus on everyday life.

History & Provenance

The print originally appeared in the republican‑leaning satirical journals La Caricature and Le Charivari, venues through which Daumier regularly disseminated his social commentary. Produced during a prolific period of press illustration, the lithograph circulated widely, reflecting the artist’s commitment to reaching a broad public audience through affordable, mass‑produced prints.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Honoré-Victorin Daumier (French: ; 26 February 1808 – 10 or 11 February 1879) was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the…