Who painted A la Varenne Saint-Maur?

A la Varenne Saint-Maur was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1862.

Where can I see A la Varenne Saint-Maur?

A la Varenne Saint-Maur is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A la Varenne Saint-Maur?

A la Varenne Saint-Maur is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

A la Varenne Saint-Maur

Honoré Daumier , 1862

A la Varenne Saint-Maur is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1862, the lithograph titled *A la Varenne Saint-Maur* is a print by French artist Honoré Daumier. Executed in the lithographic technique, the work portrays a small group gathered near water, each figure rendered with Daumier’s characteristic brisk line work and expressive gestures.

Subject & Meaning

”), injects a humorous note, suggesting a tongue‑in‑cheek comment on the pretensions of country living.

The scene shows three figures—a stout man in a coat and hat gesturing animatedly, a second gentleman tipping his hat while holding a cane, and a woman in a voluminous dress fanning herself. A modest building sits on a flat shoreline behind them. A caption at the bottom, “La Voilá!... ma maison de Campagne!” (“There it is!... my countryside house!”), injects a humorous note, suggesting a tongue‑in‑cheek comment on the pretensions of country living.

Technique & Style

Daumée employed lithography, a planographic process that allows for fluid, spontaneous drawing directly onto a stone or metal plate. The print’s bold contours, simplified forms, and lively gestural marks reflect his satirical approach, while the limited tonal range emphasizes the figures’ caricatured expressions.

Context

The lithograph belongs to a prolific period in which Daumier produced numerous satirical images for periodicals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. Though not overtly political, the work echoes his broader critique of bourgeois affectation and the social hierarchies of mid‑19th‑century France.

History & Provenance

First issued as a standalone print in 1862, the work entered the market through the usual channels for Daumier’s lithographs, circulating among collectors of French graphic art. Its later inclusion in museum collections reflects its value as a representative example of Daumier’s printmaking.

Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.