Artwork
La fusion
La fusion is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1872, *La fusion* is a lithographic print by French artist Honoré Daumier. The work belongs to the extensive body of prints through which Daumier examined and mocked the social and political climate of his time, employing his characteristic blend of humor and critique.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a sketch‑like vase adorned with a chubby, infantile figure and a rooster perched atop it. While the composition appears simple, Daumier’s choice of a baby‑like form and a rooster—symbols of innocence and vigilance—invites a satirical reading of contemporary French society, hinting at the fragility and watchfulness of the nation’s political structures.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the piece showcases Daumier’s deft handling of line and shading. The drawing‑like quality of the vase and its occupants is achieved through varied values and loose, expressive strokes, giving the print a spontaneous, sketch‑book feel while retaining sufficient detail to convey texture and depth.
History & Provenance
*La fusion* emerged during Daumier’s prolific period of work for satirical journals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. Produced amid the shifting power dynamics of the early Third Republic, the print reflects the artist’s ongoing engagement with current events. It later entered public collections, where it is cited as an example of his political lithography.
Context
The early 1870s in France were marked by the aftermath of the Franco‑Prussian War and the establishment of the Third Republic. Daumier, a committed republican, used his prints to comment on the instability and class tensions of this era, positioning *La fusion* within a broader tradition of visual satire that sought to influence public opinion.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
Suite of Vases: Plate 5
Untitled
Un procédé pour qu'il marche sans avancer
Le Sommeil d'Endymion-Berryer
Untitled
Quand s'eveillait la Vie au Fon de la matiere obscure (When life was awakening in the depths of obscure matter)
Les Tritons de la Seine
Le Nouveau polichinelle napolitain
Suite of Vases: Plate 16
Regrets Superflus!
Untitled
La fusion