Who painted Assaut de la tribune?

Assaut de la tribune was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1849.

Where can I see Assaut de la tribune?

Assaut de la tribune is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Assaut de la tribune?

Assaut de la tribune is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Assaut de la tribune?

Museum-quality prints of Assaut de la tribune are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Assaut de la tribune

Honoré Daumier , 1849

Assaut de la tribune is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph Assaut de la tribune depicts a tumultuous episode inside a parliamentary chamber. Figures in formal attire jostle around a podium while a group of men on lower benches appear disengaged or conspiratorial. The composition is crowded, the atmosphere charged, and the scene is rendered with the exaggerated gestures typical of Daumier’s political satire.

Subject & Meaning

The print satirizes the conduct of legislators, portraying them as more concerned with posturing than with substantive debate. By juxtaposing frantic activity near the speaker’s platform with a languid waiting area below, Daumier highlights the disconnect between public spectacle and the underlying inertia of political discourse, offering a pointed commentary on the social dynamics of his era.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on bold line work and stark contrasts to emphasize facial expressions and gestural exaggeration. Daumier’s deft handling of the medium allows rapid production of multiple copies, while the sharp caricatural details, such as the top‑hated figure feigning outrage, underscore his talent for visual humor and critique.

Context

Created during a period of heightened political unrest in mid‑19th‑century France, the image reflects the public’s growing cynicism toward parliamentary proceedings. Daumian’s series of political prints from this time frequently targeted the same institutions, situating Assaut de la tribune within a broader body of work that used satire to question authority and social conventions.

M. Laurent (de l'ardèche) Passant ..., Honoré Daumier

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Artist & collection

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…