Who painted Crévera! Crévera pas!?

Crévera! Crévera pas! was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1870.

Where can I see Crévera! Crévera pas!?

Crévera! Crévera pas! is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Crévera! Crévera pas!?

Crévera! Crévera pas! is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Crévera! Crévera pas!

Honoré Daumier , 1870

Crévera! Crévera pas! is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The temple looks solid, but the word DISSOLUTION says it won’t last.

A dark cloud labeled "DISSOLUTION" looms over a Greek temple.
Daumier made this in 1870. It’s a lithograph, a print made with greasy crayon on stone.
The blank-faced figures watch without moving.

This feels like a warning. The temple looks solid, but the word DISSOLUTION says it won’t last.
Daumier often mocked politics this way.

Think of this next time you see a protest sign.
Look up Daumier, Honoré.

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1870 lithograph ‘Crévera! Crévera pas!’ presents a stark tableau in which a dark, labeled cloud hovers above a classical, temple‑like edifice. The composition is rendered in the monochrome tones typical of lithography, emphasizing the tension between the solid architecture and the threatening inscription.

Subject & Meaning

The cloud bears the word ‘DISSOLUTION,’ suggesting an imminent collapse of the structure beneath it. Figures seen from behind stand in silent observation, their blank faces reinforcing a sense of collective unease and warning about political instability.

Technique & Style

Created with greasy crayon on stone, the work exemplifies Daumier’s lithographic practice, employing bold line work and minimal shading to convey atmosphere. The limited palette and simplified forms focus attention on the symbolic elements rather than detailed narrative.

Context

Produced in 1870, the print reflects the turbulent climate of the Franco‑Prussian War and the collapse of the Second Empire. Daumier, known for his satirical commentary, uses the image to critique the fragility of institutions amid national crisis.

Legacy

‘Crévera! Crévera pas!’ remains a concise visual protest, echoing the artist’s broader engagement with political satire. Its stark imagery continues to be referenced in studies of 19th‑century French printmaking and the visual language of dissent.

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.