Who painted Mais, monsieur, je vous assure que c'est du... veau!...?

Mais, monsieur, je vous assure que c'est du... veau!... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1852.

Where can I see Mais, monsieur, je vous assure que c'est du... veau!...?

Mais, monsieur, je vous assure que c'est du... veau!... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Mais, monsieur, je vous assure que c'est du... veau!...?

Mais, monsieur, je vous assure que c'est du... veau!... is associated with Impressionism.

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Artwork

Mais, monsieur, je vous assure que c'est du... veau!...

Honoré Daumier , 1852

Mais, monsieur, je vous assure que c'est du... veau!... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1852, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier presents a domestic tableau that doubles as a social commentary. A gentleman in a top hat peers skeptically at his plate while a servant in a white apron gestures reassuringly. The cramped, dimly lit interior underscores the tension between the two figures, inviting viewers to question the authenticity of what is being offered.

Subject & Meaning

The work satirizes the pretensions of the bourgeoisie, suggesting that the polished exterior of elite dining masks a less appetizing reality. By juxtaposing the aristocratic patron’s doubt with the servant’s eager reassurance, Daumier critiques the gullibility of the upper classes and the performative deference of those serving them.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the image relies on bold line work and stark contrasts to convey both the characters’ expressions and the chiaroscuro of the room. Daumier’s characteristic exaggeration of facial features and gestures enhances the comedic yet biting tone, while the print medium allowed rapid dissemination in the newspapers of his day.

Context

Produced during a period of intense political turbulence in France, the print reflects Daumier’s republican sympathies and his broader campaign against monarchical and clerical authority. As a regular contributor to satirical journals, he used such images to lampoon the ruling elite and to promote democratic ideals amid the upheavals of the mid‑nineteenth century.

Legacy

The lithograph stands as an example of how print media served as a vehicle for political dissent in nineteenth‑century France. Daumier’s ability to merge humor with pointed criticism helped shape the tradition of visual satire, influencing later caricaturists and reinforcing the role of the printed image in public discourse.

Ah! monsieur... faut pas lui rire comme ça..., 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…