Who painted Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas?

Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1851.

Where can I see Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas?

Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas?

Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas

Honoré Daumier , 1851

Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas is a 1851 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a French artist known for his work in multiple mediums.

Subject & Meaning

The print satirically depicts a chaotic scene involving the chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas, with a frantic figure clutching his head as a ghostly hand descends from above, set against a theatrical backdrop. The image reflects Daumier's commentary on figures of authority, aligning with his republican democratic views.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed quick, sketchy lines to convey a sense of urgency and chaos, transforming the subject into a comical figure. The lithograph's expressive style was characteristic of Daumier's caricatural work.

Context

The work was part of Daumier's extensive output of satirical prints for publications like La Caricature and Le Charivari, which critiqued French social and political life during the mid-19th century.

Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

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.