Artwork
Les Malheurs du chimiste Dumas
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.
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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…
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