Artwork
Et on appelle ça descendre le fleuve de la vie...
Et on appelle ça descendre le fleuve de la vie... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1842 lithograph Et on appelle ça descendre le fleuve de la vie... presents a quiet riverside scene. A man in a top hat and coat walks ahead of a woman in a long dress holding an umbrella, both appearing absorbed in thought as they move along the bank. The composition is rendered in bold lines that suggest depth across the water and distant landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes a seemingly tranquil promenade with Daumier’s characteristic social observation. By placing ordinary figures in a leisurely setting, the artist invites reflection on the passage of life, hinted at by the title’s reference to descending a river. The subdued mood contrasts with his usual satirical edge, suggesting a contemplative commentary on everyday existence.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print relies on strong contour lines and varied shading to model form and space. Daumier’s handling of the medium creates texture in the figures’ clothing and the rippling water, while the limited tonal range emphasizes the contrast between foreground and background, a hallmark of his printmaking practice.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier’s early period of work for satirical newspapers such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, the lithograph reflects his broader engagement with French social and political issues of the 1840s. Though less overtly political than many of his caricatures, it remains part of his prolific output that documented contemporary 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…
