Artwork

Nadar élevant la Photographie à la hauteur de l'Art (Nadar Elevating Photography to Art)

Nadar élevant la Photographie à la hauteur de l'Art (Nadar Elevating Photography to Art) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Nadar élevant la Photographie à la hauteur de l'Art is a 1862 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a French artist known for satirical works. The print depicts the photographer Nadar ascending above a cityscape, symbolizing the elevation of photography to an art form.

Subject & Meaning

The image shows Nadar floating above a city, holding a camera and wearing a top hat, surrounded by a balloon labeled 'PHOTOGRAPHIE' and 'NADAR'. This representation reflects the mid-19th-century debate on photography's cultural status and its potential as a fine art medium.

Technique & Style

Daumier's use of bold lines and shading creates depth and dimensionality. The contrast between the dark cityscape and the bright balloon adds drama and tension, characteristic of his satirical style.

Context

Created during a period of rapid technological and artistic change in France, this lithograph engages with the rising prominence of photography and reflects Daumier's broader practice of social and political commentary.

Frontispiece: The Dregs of Society (Las bas-fonds de la societe), Félicien Rops

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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…