1867
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Jadis c'était différent is a 1867 ink by Honoré Daumier, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a group of people in a dimly lit alley. One man in a top hat leans on a stick, looking down at a woman kneeling on the ground. Another woman stands nearby, holding a child. The scene feels tense and crowded, with rough lines and dark shading. The text at the bottom reads *"Jadis c’était différent"*—meaning "Things used to be different"—and *"Souvenons nous en!"* ("Let’s remember!"). This suggests the artist wanted viewers to reflect on how life has changed. Next, check out lithography to see how this print was made.
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.
See the richer artist page
