Artwork
Manière dont ...
Manière dont ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Honoré Daumée’s 1854 lithograph, titled Manière dont, depicts a crowded street scene frozen in a moment of confrontation.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumée’s 1854 lithograph, titled Manière dont, depicts a crowded street scene frozen in a moment of confrontation. At its centre a figure wields a sizeable staff, while surrounding onlookers recoil, shielding themselves with raised arms and heads. The composition is compact, the tension palpable, and the work functions as a visual commentary on public unrest.
Subject & Meaning
The central agitator, armed with a long pole, appears to dominate a chaotic assembly, suggesting a clash between authority and the populace.
The central agitator, armed with a long pole, appears to dominate a chaotic assembly, suggesting a clash between authority and the populace. The defensive postures of the surrounding figures convey fear or resistance, hinting at Daumée’s critique of oppressive power structures. The image operates as a satirical narrative, employing exaggerated gestures to underscore social and political anxieties of the period.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print relies on bold, uneven lines that convey kinetic energy. Daumée’s use of stark chiaroscuro heightens contrast, making the central figure stand out against a densely textured background. The scratchy, almost improvisational strokes enhance the sense of immediacy, while the limited tonal range underscores the work’s confrontational tone.
History & Provenance
Created as a political cartoon in the mid‑nineteenth century, the lithograph was part of Daumée’s broader engagement with contemporary French politics. It was originally published in a satirical newspaper, circulating among an audience attuned to social critique. Subsequent collections have preserved the print, allowing it to be studied as an exemplar of Daumée’s activist printmaking.
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Artist & collection
Artist
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…
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