Ma patrie, a moi?...
1842
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1842
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Ma patrie, a moi?... is a 1842 ink by Honoré Daumier, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This 1842 lithograph shows three French figures: a soldier on the left, a jolly man in the center with a huge belly, and a quiet man on the right. The soldier looks serious while the others seem relaxed. Their clothes and poses hint at class differences. Daumier made this during a time when France debated identity and power. The jolly man’s big belly pokes out—it’s not just funny. It makes you wonder who gets to speak for France. This style comes from lithography, a printing method Daumier used often.
