Artwork
Ah! ben... le convoi... peut se flatter de l'échapper...
Ah! ben... le convoi... peut se flatter de l'échapper... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1843, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier presents a brief, staged encounter between two figures separated by a low fence. One man crouches on the ground, clutching a paper, while a better‑dressed figure in a top hat stands behind the barrier, looking down. The composition is set against an unadorned, light‑colored wall, emphasizing the interaction rather than any detailed setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of tension between a commoner, identifiable by his cap and simple tunic, and a more affluent individual, suggested by the top hat and coat. The crouched figure’s intense focus on the document hints at a legal or bureaucratic matter, while the observer’s mixed expression of curiosity and concern underscores Daumier’s interest in the power dynamics of everyday French society.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print showcases Daumier’s characteristic bold line work and stark contrasts, which heighten the figures’ gestures and facial expressions. The minimal background and limited tonal range direct attention to the characters, a typical approach in Daumier’s satirical prints that favors narrative clarity over decorative detail.
History & Provenance
Daumier produced this image during a prolific period of political caricature, contributing regularly to satirical journals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. The lithograph was circulated as part of his commentary on contemporary social issues, reflecting his engagement with the turbulent political climate of early‑mid‑19th‑century France.
Context
The early 1840s in France were marked by frequent changes in government and growing public debate over civil liberties. Daumier’s republican sympathies informed his work, which often critiqued authority figures and highlighted the plight of ordinary citizens confronting bureaucratic obstacles.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
