Who painted Dire que je vais être... exposé...?

Dire que je vais être... exposé... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1859.

Where can I see Dire que je vais être... exposé...?

Dire que je vais être... exposé... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Dire que je vais être... exposé...?

Dire que je vais être... exposé... is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Dire que je vais être... exposé...

Honoré Daumier , 1859

Dire que je vais être... exposé... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1859, this black lithograph on wove paper presents a domestic interior populated by a man, a woman, and a child.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1859, this black lithograph on wove paper presents a domestic interior populated by a man, a woman, and a child. The figures stand before a plain wall and a modest pedestal bust, while a window admits a faint glow. The composition is rendered with swift, sketch‑like lines that emphasize the scene’s humor and social commentary.

Subject & Meaning

The central male figure appears rigid and irritated, his expression underscored by a caption that jokes about his lack of a cravat, a symbol of respectable attire. The surrounding family members and the modest setting suggest a critique of bourgeois pretensions and the public exposure of personal shortcomings, a common target in the artist’s satirical work.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the image relies on black ink applied to a wove paper surface, allowing for fine, rapid strokes that convey immediacy. The artist’s use of loose, gestural lines creates a caricatured effect, while the contrast between dark figures and the light‑filled window heightens the visual punch of the satire.

History & Provenance

The print was produced for the mid‑nineteenth‑century French periodicals La Caricature and Le Charivari, venues through which the creator regularly voiced republican criticism of monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy. Its publication in these widely circulated newspapers ensured a broad readership, reflecting the artist’s strategy of using affordable print media to disseminate political commentary.

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.