Artwork
En pleine eau
En pleine eau is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1847, En pleine eau is a lithographic print executed on newsprint by the French artist Honoré Daumier. The image depicts a small boat crowded with figures who are focused on a person struggling in the water, conveying a moment of collective urgency within a natural landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a rescue scene: passengers in the vessel lean forward, their attention fixed on a drowning individual, suggesting themes of solidarity and human concern. The muted palette of browns and greens reinforces a sober atmosphere, while the surrounding trees and hills frame the incident within a broader, everyday environment.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed the lithographic process on inexpensive newsprint, a material choice that facilitated wide distribution. The print demonstrates his skillful handling of line and tonal contrast, using light reflected on the water’s surface to suggest movement and depth, and employing chiaroscuro to model the figures and landscape.
History & Provenance
During the 1840s Daumier was active as a prolific illustrator for satirical journals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, using prints to comment on contemporary social and political issues. En pleine eau reflects his practice of producing accessible works on cheap paper, intended for a broad readership in Paris.
Context
The print emerges from a period of intense political turbulence in France, spanning the aftermath of the 1830 Revolution to the rise of the Second Empire. While the image does not depict a specific event, its focus on collective action resonates with Daumier’s broader critique of societal indifference and his advocacy for civic responsibility.
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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…
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Descendant joyeusement le fleuve de la vie
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