Artwork
Les Jolis Chasseurs
Les Jolis Chasseurs is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1864 lithograph Les Jolis Chasseurs presents a rainy woodland scene in which two hunters stand side by side, their tall hats and rifles silhouetted against a backdrop of slender trees. The composition balances the figures with the surrounding foliage, creating a quiet tableau that captures a fleeting moment of shared activity in a natural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a modest episode of rural leisure, emphasizing the bond between the two men as they face the damp forest together. The muted atmosphere and the gentle melancholy of the rain suggest a contemplative relationship between humans and the landscape, highlighting the ordinary yet intimate aspects of everyday life.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, Daumier renders the hunters’ clothing and the trees with fine line work and subtle tonal variations, demonstrating his skill in translating texture and atmosphere onto paper. The print’s delicate shading and precise detailing convey depth and movement, reflecting the artist’s interest in capturing the nuances of commonplace scenes.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑nineteenth century, Les Jolis Chasseurs belongs to a period when Daumier produced numerous prints documenting contemporary French society. The lithograph was issued as part of his series of genre images and has since circulated among private collections and museum holdings, illustrating the enduring appeal of his observational approach.
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…
