Artwork
Lilliputiens essayant de profiter du sommeil...
Lilliputiens essayant de profiter du sommeil... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Lilliputiens essayant de profiter du sommeil.
About this work
Overview
Lilliputiens essayant de profiter du sommeil... is a 1850 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a French artist known for his satirical commentary on contemporary life.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a scene inspired by Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, where tiny figures swarm over a giant, exploiting his slumber. The image is a satirical commentary on social hierarchies, with the tiny figures representing those in power taking advantage of the more powerful.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed quick, sketchy lines to create a lively and dynamic scene, capturing the chaos of the tiny figures' actions. The relaxed expression on the giant's face adds to the sense of irony and satire.
Context
The lithograph was produced during a period when Daumier regularly contributed to satirical publications, using his art to critique the French monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy from a republican democratic perspective.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
