1857
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Archimède démontrant aux ingènieurs anglais ... is a 1857 ink by Honoré Daumier, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This lithograph shows a bearded man pointing at a big wooden machine lifting ships. The man looks intense. The ships dangle in mid-air, ropes tight. Daumier made fun of fancy ideas with simple pictures. This one pokes at British engineers who thought they knew it all. The machine looks wobbly, not trusty. The scratchy lines make the scene feel alive. It’s not smooth or polished. See how the crowd behind the man watches close? They’re unsure. Daumier, Honoré
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.
See the richer artist page
