Where can I see Ma soeur disait comme ça, hier, qu'elle vous trouve trop laid!?

Ma soeur disait comme ça, hier, qu'elle vous trouve trop laid! is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Ma soeur disait comme ça, hier, qu'elle vous trouve trop laid!?

Ma soeur disait comme ça, hier, qu'elle vous trouve trop laid! is associated with Romanticism.

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Museum-quality prints of Ma soeur disait comme ça, hier, qu'elle vous trouve trop laid! are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Ma soeur disait comme ça, hier, qu'elle vous trouve trop laid!

Honoré Daumier , 22

Ma soeur disait comme ça, hier, qu'elle vous trouve trop laid! is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 22 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled Ma soeur disait comme ça, hier, qu'elle vous trouve trop laid! presents a brief, lively tableau that captures a moment of domestic humor. Executed in the mid‑19th century, the print features three figures, a senior gentleman, a young child, and a woman, arranged in a cramped interior space, each rendered with Daumier’s characteristic wit.

Subject & Meaning

The scene centers on an elderly man whose facial expression is deliberately distorted into a comical scowl as he speaks to a woman, while a child nearby bursts into laughter. The exaggerated gestures and smiles suggest a satirical commentary on social interaction, perhaps mocking pretensions or generational misunderstandings common in contemporary French life.

Technique & Style

Created using lithography, the work showcases Daumier’s skill in manipulating line and tone to achieve rapid, sketch‑like energy. The print’s bold contours and stark contrasts emphasize caricatured facial features, a hallmark of Daumier’s approach to portraying human folly. The medium allows for swift reproduction, reinforcing the immediacy of the depicted humor.

Context

Produced during a period when Daumian artists frequently turned to everyday scenes for social critique, this lithograph reflects the broader 19th‑century French fascination with the quotidian and the rise of visual satire. Its informal composition aligns with the artist’s broader oeuvre, which often blended observational detail with exaggerated, almost theatrical expression.

Legacy

While not among Daumier’s most widely reproduced pieces, the print exemplifies his enduring influence on caricature and modern comic art. Its straightforward, energetic execution continues to inform studies of lithographic practice and the role of humor in visual commentary on societal norms.

Lolo!...veux-tu laisser la chaisse tranquille..., Honoré Daumier

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Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

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…