Who painted C'est dangereux, la pêche à l'épervier?

C'est dangereux, la pêche à l'épervier was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1872.

Where can I see C'est dangereux, la pêche à l'épervier?

C'est dangereux, la pêche à l'épervier is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is C'est dangereux, la pêche à l'épervier?

C'est dangereux, la pêche à l'épervier is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

C'est dangereux, la pêche à l'épervier

Honoré Daumier , 1872

C'est dangereux, la pêche à l'épervier is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

' The work’s stark tonal contrasts and simplified forms reflect Daumier’s signature style, rooted in journalistic illustration rather than fine art traditions.

Created in 1872, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier is part of a series of political prints responding to France’s turbulent post-monarchical era. Executed in grayscale, the image captures a solitary figure in a dark suit confronting a heavy stone marked 'MONARCHIE.' The work’s stark tonal contrasts and simplified forms reflect Daumier’s signature style, rooted in journalistic illustration rather than fine art traditions.

Subject & Meaning

The figure, gripping a submerged rock labeled 'MONARCHIE,' symbolizes the precarious effort to suppress or contain the remnants of monarchical power. His strained posture and gaze suggest vigilance or exhaustion, implying that the past is not easily buried. The title, translating to 'It's dangerous, fishing with a hawk,' alludes to a proverbial risk—here, the danger of reviving old regimes through nostalgia or political maneuvering.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed lithography for its capacity to convey rapid, expressive lines and rich tonal gradations. The image relies on minimal detail, using broad washes of gray to model form and depth. The rough texture of the stone and the figure’s crumpled clothing are rendered with economical strokes, enhancing the sense of urgency. The medium’s immediacy aligns with the print’s function as a timely political statement.

History & Provenance

Produced during the early Third Republic, the print emerged amid ongoing debates over France’s political identity after the fall of Napoleon III. Daumier, long associated with satirical journals like *Le Charivari*, continued to critique authority despite declining health and public censorship. This work likely circulated privately or in limited editions, avoiding direct publication due to its incendiary symbolism.

Context

In the 1870s, France grappled with lingering monarchist sympathies and fears of counter-revolution. Daumier’s imagery tapped into public anxiety over whether democratic institutions could endure. His use of metaphor—rather than literal caricature—allowed the message to resonate beyond immediate political events, framing monarchy as a weighty, submerged force that still demanded vigilance.

Legacy

Though less widely known than his earlier satires, this lithograph exemplifies Daumier’s mature approach: symbolic, restrained, and emotionally resonant. It influenced later generations of political artists who favored allegory over overt caricature. The work remains a quiet but potent testament to his lifelong commitment to exposing the persistence of power structures through visual metaphor.

Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

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.