Artwork
Aux Champs-Elysées, Ratapoil. Par suite d'une délibération philantropique [sic] du Comité du dix Décembre...à deux sous à club...deux sous...
![Aux Champs-Elysées, Ratapoil. Par suite d'une délibération philantropique [sic] du Comité du dix Décembre...à deux sous à club...deux sous..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 12](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/honore-daumier--aux-champs-elysees-ratapoil-par-suite-d-une-deliberation-phi--62ca0cc774af3945-w1024.webp)
Aux Champs-Elysées, Ratapoil. Par suite d'une délibération philantropique [sic] du Comité du dix Décembre...à deux sous à club...deux sous... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 12 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumée’s lithograph titled Aux Champs‑Elysées, Ratapoil presents a bustling Parisian street scene rendered in a light, sketch‑like manner.
Honoré Daumée’s lithograph titled Aux Champs‑Elysées, Ratapoil presents a bustling Parisian street scene rendered in a light, sketch‑like manner. Central to the composition is a man with an oversized nose and a tall top hat, clutching a pair of sticks, while a group of similarly dressed figures populate the vague background. The work captures the energy of 19th‑century urban life through a concise, observational approach.
Subject & Meaning
The exaggerated facial features and flamboyant attire of the central figure serve as a satirical device, highlighting the pretensions and fashions of contemporary Parisians. By surrounding him with indistinct companions, Daumée underscores the collective conformity of the crowd, while the exaggerated nose and hat hint at a playful critique of social status and public display.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the image relies on delicate line work and minimal tonal shading to suggest depth. Daumée’s characteristic loose sketching of the street backdrop creates a sense of immediacy, while the bold outlines of the figures emphasize their caricatured forms. The medium allows for rapid reproduction, aligning with the artist’s interest in disseminating social commentary.
History & Provenance
The print was produced following a philanthropic resolution of the Comité du dix Décembre, a detail noted in its title. It was originally issued at a modest price of two sous, indicating its accessibility to a broad audience. The work remains part of the broader corpus of Daumée’s prints that documented Parisian life during the mid‑1800s.
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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…
