Artwork
Oui Monsieur vous n'êtes pas de Paris...
Oui Monsieur vous n'êtes pas de Paris... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1840, this lithographic print by Honoré Daumier bears the title Oui Monsieur vous n'êtes pas de Paris.... It presents a brief, confrontational scene between two gentlemen in top hats, rendered in stark, sketch‑like lines that emphasize gesture over detail. The composition is minimal, with an almost empty background that directs attention to the figures’ expressive postures and faces.
Subject & Meaning
Daumier’s choice of ordinary, well‑dressed men reflects his ongoing interest in critiquing the attitudes of the bourgeois and elite classes.
The work captures a moment of heated exchange: one man turns away with a rigid back, while the other leans forward, his expression twisted in surprise or irritation. The clenched hands of the older figure suggest tension or frustration, hinting at a social or political dispute. Daumier’s choice of ordinary, well‑dressed men reflects his ongoing interest in critiquing the attitudes of the bourgeois and elite classes.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed the lithographic process, using swift, gestural strokes that convey immediacy and emotional intensity. The lines are deliberately rough, lacking refined modeling, which reinforces the satirical tone. The near‑blank backdrop serves as a visual void, ensuring that the viewer’s focus remains on the dynamic interaction and the exaggerated facial features that characterize Daumier’s caricatural approach.
History & Provenance
Produced during Daumier’s prolific period of contributing to satirical newspapers such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, the print aligns with his broader campaign against the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy. While specific ownership records are sparse, the work is documented within the artist’s extensive oeuvre of politically charged lithographs that circulated widely in mid‑19th‑century France.
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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…
