1845
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
La vielle méthode is a 1845 ink by Honoré Daumier, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
Honoré Daumier’s 1845 lithograph shows a crowded classroom. The teacher stands tall while students slouch over tiny desks. Thick lines cover every inch of the paper, making it look busy and sharp. Daumier was a sharp critic of society. This print mocks old-school teaching that piles kids into small seats. The crowded scene feels tight and uncomfortable on purpose. It’s like the artist wanted you to feel the room’s tension. If you like this bold style, look up Daumier, Honoré.
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
