Artwork
Les Baigneuses prudentes
Les Baigneuses prudentes is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Les Baigneuses prudentes is a 1847 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, featuring a satirical depiction of three women at the water's edge, characterized by their formal attire and cautious demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The print satirizes wealthy Parisians' concern for propriety, even in leisure settings like the beach. The subjects' stiff postures and formal dress (long gowns, wide hats) underscore their prioritization of appearance over relaxation.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography on newsprint, the work showcases Daumier's use of rough lines to enhance the comedic effect of the scene, aligning with his caricaturist approach.
History & Provenance
Created for publication in a newspaper, likely La Caricature or Le Charivari, where Daumier was a regular contributor, aligning his republican views with social commentary through mass-reachable mediums.
Context
Part of Daumier's broader output targeting the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy, this work reflects his democratic leanings and critique of societal norms in mid-19th-century France.
Own this work as a print
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…
- Chère baronne, je vous félicite...
Bains de Femmes
Fesant toutes partie de la plus belle moitié...
En pleine eau
Les Barbotteuses
Entre deux plongeons
En Famille
Nayades de la Seine (Sea Nymphs of the Seine)
La planche démontree par le prècepte ...
Dites donc, mame Giboulard...
Une plaisanterie dont ne se lasse ...
En famille