Artwork
En Voila un de plaisir!
En Voila un de plaisir! is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
En Voila un de plaisir! is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1841, exemplifying his satirical approach to critiquing French society during the mid-19th century.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph depicts a rotund figure in a chair, amused by a performing dog. Beneath its humorous surface, the work critiques societal hierarchies, reflecting Daumier's republican democratic stance against the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed sharp, quick lines in the lithograph, characteristic of his mastery of the medium. Lithography's process, involving drawing on stone with greasy crayons, suited his expressive and dynamic style, often used to convey satire in contemporary publications.
History & Provenance
Created in 1841, this work was part of Daumier's contributions to satirical publications like La Caricature and Le Charivari, where his caricatures targeted societal elites and advocated for democratic values.
Context
Set against the backdrop of mid-19th-century France, En Voila un de plaisir! reflects the era's political and social tensions, using humor to mask sharper commentary on corruption and hypocrisy among the elite.
Legacy
This lithograph contributes to Daumier's legacy as a pioneering satirical artist, influencing future generations with his unique blend of sharp humor and political commentary, characteristic of his body of work critiquing Parisian life.
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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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