Artwork
Pour la septième fois voulez-vous me rendre ...
Pour la septième fois voulez-vous me rendre ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The image is rendered entirely in monochrome, using the stark contrasts of black ink against white paper to highlight the intensity of the encounter.
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled Pour la septième fois voulez‑vous me rendre... depicts a cramped theater box where two figures are locked in a vigorous exchange. The composition concentrates on their faces and gestures, conveying a moment of heightened emotion within a public entertainment setting. The image is rendered entirely in monochrome, using the stark contrasts of black ink against white paper to highlight the intensity of the encounter.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a fleeting, confrontational dialogue between a nervous participant and a more assertive interlocutor, suggesting themes of social pressure and public scrutiny. By isolating the pair amid the surrounding audience, Daumier underscores the personal drama that can unfold even in communal spaces, reflecting his broader interest in the complexities of human interaction.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithographic print, the piece relies on fine cross‑hatching and varied line density to model volume and convey mood. Daumier’s economical use of black and white amplifies the tension, while the fluid, sketch‑like strokes retain a sense of immediacy characteristic of his satirical prints. The technique allows for subtle gradations of tone without resorting to color.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier’s prolific period of social commentary in the mid‑19th century, the lithograph was produced in a limited edition for the French market. It later entered several European private collections before being acquired by a museum specializing in graphic arts, where it remains part of the permanent display of 19th‑century prints.
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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…
Dis donc, not'homme, faut-y ...
Vous m'excuserez: je vais me mettre a table ...
Moi, j'ai habitude de ne ... rien donner
Un nouveau théatre modèle
Mossieu ... je suis ce mari aux dépens duquel
Amateurs classiques ... convaincus ...
Ell me plait beaucoup ...
Se posant en appréciateur
Sans doute M. Riflot le droit...
Se posant en connaisseurs