Who painted Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard!?

Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard! was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1845.

Where can I see Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard!?

Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard! is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard!?

Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard! is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard!?

Museum-quality prints of Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard! are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard!

Honoré Daumier , 1845

Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard! is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard! is a 1845 lithograph on newsprint by Honoré Daumier, exemplifying his satirical style as a political caricaturist during France's social and political turmoil.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts three individuals in a dimly lit room gazing out a window with an ambiguous, shadowy view. Their expressions and postures suggest a conversation, potentially about the Saint-Médard holiday mentioned in the title, which may symbolize the unpredictability of political events through a reference to a proverb about erratic weather.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithograph on newsprint, the piece features simple yet expressive facial renderings and a muted interior setting, characteristic of Daumier's caricaturist approach. The contrast between the dim room and the window's empty light and shadows adds depth.

History & Provenance

Created in 1845 for publication, likely in *La Caricature* or *Le Charivari*, reflecting Daumier's role as a republican democrat critiquing the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy through satire.

Context

This work is set against the backdrop of 19th-century France's political and social upheaval, where such satirical prints served as a form of public commentary and critique.

Legacy

While specific long-term impact of this piece is not detailed, it contributes to Daumier's broader legacy as a pivotal political caricaturist, influencing future generations of artists and satirists.

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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.