Artwork
Pauvre vieux
Pauvre vieux is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Pauvre vieux is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, created during a period of European instability.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two figures, 'Équilibre Européen' and 'Conférence,' satirizing European politics. The first figure, on crutches, conveys instability, while the second, leaning in with a grin, represents negotiation or dialogue.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed a scratchy, bold style, working quickly with crayon on stone to convey his anger and humor. The rough lines and exaggerated forms are characteristic of his approach to political illustration.
Artist & collection
Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.
