1870
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
L'appel de leurs réserves is a 1870 by Honoré Daumier, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a chaotic scene of four struggling men. One is being lifted by the legs, another clings to his back, and a third holds a small figure overhead. Their faces are twisted in effort, and the lines are rough, almost scribbled. The background is a faint, wavy shape—maybe water or a crowd—with no clear details. The title hints this isn’t just a random fight. The artist often used everyday chaos to comment on politics or society. The sketch’s rough style fits newsprint, not polished art. Next, check out Daumier, Honoré—he turned everyday drama into sharp social critiques.
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
