Artwork
A travers les ateliers
A travers les ateliers 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
A travers les ateliers is a 1862 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, characteristic of his use of printmaking to observe and critique aspects of French society.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a chaotic artist’s studio with six individuals gathered around a partially completed painting, evoking a sense of collaborative creativity and varied reactions among the group. The scene offers a glimpse into the inner workings of 19th-century artistic studios.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithograph, the work features exaggerated facial expressions and loose, expressive lines, conveying a sense of spontaneity and humor, hallmarks of Daumier’s satirical approach.
History & Provenance
Created during a period of French governance shifts, A travers les ateliers reflects Daumier’s republican democratic leanings, consistent with his satirical contributions to publications like La Caricature and Le Charivari.
Context
The title, translating to 'Through the studios,' suggests an authentic portrayal of collaborative artistic practices of the time, though presented through Daumier’s characteristic satirical lens.
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Artist & collection
Artist
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…
Around the Studios
Décadence du drame en 1866
Le visiteur ...
The Paintings Exhibition of 1868: Giving it the last touch
On dit que les Parisiens...
Un récit de chasse
Painters and the bourgeois
Un nouveau théatre modèle
Dire qu'il y a des gens qui boivent de l'absinthe ...
Séances musicales- Vue d'un atelier... avant l'exposition
En v'la un, il pourrait bien être malheureux...