Les Tritons de la Seine

About this work

This sketch shows a chaotic boat scene on rough water. Four people—two men and two women—are crammed together, struggling to stay afloat. One man holds a pipe, another clutches a hat, and the waves look ready to swallow them all. The lines are loose and expressive, almost like a quick sketch. The artist used a technique called lithography, which lets you draw directly on stone and print it like a sketch. This style was popular for political cartoons and everyday scenes. The messy, uneven lines make it feel urgent, like you’re watching real chaos unfold. Next, check out Daumier, Honoré to see how he used art to comment on society.