Artwork
Faut pas s'plaindre de c'temps-la...
Faut pas s'plaindre de c'temps-la... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1864, this lithographic print by Honoré Daumier presents a brief, humorous scene of two weary figures sheltering from rain. The composition, rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner, captures a moment of everyday fatigue beneath a drizzling sky, emphasizing the artist’s quick, gestural line work.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows two men standing beneath a curtain of rain; one holds an umbrella while the other keeps his hands in his pockets. Their antiquated coats and hats suggest a modest, working‑class presence, and the weary posture hints at the hardships of daily life, a recurring theme in Daumier’s socially aware satire.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, possibly a gillotype, Daumier employed a rough, sketchy line that conveys immediacy rather than polished finish. The print’s sharp contrasts and visible pen strokes reveal the artist’s preference for rapid, expressive drawing, a hallmark of his caricature work for periodicals.
Context
The print belongs to Daumier’s long tenure as a caricaturist for publications such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, during a turbulent era that spanned the 1830 Revolution to the collapse of the Second French Empire. His republican sympathies informed a body of work that regularly critiqued the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy.
Legacy
While not a formal illustration for a specific article, the piece exemplifies Daumier’s ability to blend social commentary with everyday observation. It continues to illustrate how lithography enabled 19th‑century artists to disseminate satirical images quickly to a broad public.
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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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