Artwork

Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés!

Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés!, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1845
Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés!, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1845

Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés! is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Ah!

About this work

Overview

Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés! is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1845, exemplifying his satirical approach to critiquing French society during the mid-19th century.

Subject & Meaning

The print captures a moment of comic alarm, featuring a distressed man in formal attire and a concerned yet calm woman, set against a shadowy background. The scene conveys tension and unease, characteristic of Daumier's use of satire to address social and political issues of his time.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed his distinctive style of exaggerated figures and dramatic composition in this lithograph, complemented by a humorous caption, to lampoon the societal hierarchies of France under the July Monarchy and Second Republic.

History & Provenance

Originally published in Parisian journals like La Caricature and Le Charivari, this work reflects Daumier's role as a prolific printmaker and caricaturist aligned with republican democratic ideals.

Context
is indeed a lithograph, a medium Daumier leveraged for widespread dissemination of his satirical commentary.

While the provided visual note mistakenly refers to the work as a 'painting,' Ah! Saperlotte... is indeed a lithograph, a medium Daumier leveraged for widespread dissemination of his satirical commentary. The mentioned 'Romanticism movement' context, however, is not directly applicable to Daumier's satirical and politically charged body of work, which is more closely associated with the Caricature and social commentary of the era.

Que nous sommes bêtes d'avoir une peur pareille...
Que nous sommes bêtes d'avoir une peur pareille..., Honoré Daumier

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés!?

Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés! was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1845.

Where can I see Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés!?

Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés! is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés!?

Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés! is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés!?

Museum-quality prints of Ah! Saperlotte, je crois que nous sommes pincés! are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.