Who painted Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient?

Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1866.

Where can I see Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient?

Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient?

Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient

Honoré Daumier , 1866

Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Two old men hug in a dark room. One wears a cap, the other a hat. Their clothes look worn, their arms hold tight.

Daumier made this in 1866 using a printing method called lithography. It lets artists draw on stone with greasy ink. The image prints in black and white, keeping things simple but strong.

Look next at Daumier, Honoré.

Overview

Honoré Daumée r’s 1866 lithograph “Et ces deux grands débris se consolaient” shows two elderly men locked in an embrace within a dim interior. Their clothing is ragged, one wearing a cap and the other a hat, and the composition is rendered entirely in black and white, creating a stark visual impact.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a moment of mutual consolation between the figures, suggesting themes of solidarity and human compassion. The presence of the word “LA LIBERTÉ” in the background hints at a broader social or political resonance, linking personal comfort to collective ideals.

Technique & Style

Executed with lithography, Daumier drew directly onto a stone surface using greasy ink, a process that yields bold contrasts and fine line work. The monochrome palette emphasizes texture and gesture, allowing the emotional weight of the embrace to dominate the scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1866, the print belongs to Daumier’s prolific period of socially engaged imagery. It was produced as part of his series of lithographs that commented on contemporary life, though specific details of its early ownership remain limited.

Context

The lithograph emerges amid the turbulent atmosphere of mid‑19th‑century France, when issues of liberty, social inequality, and the plight of the working class were prominent in public discourse. Daumier’s choice of an intimate, compassionate scene reflects his ongoing concern with the human condition under such pressures.

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.