Artwork
Quelle heureuse rencontre!... C'est...
Quelle heureuse rencontre!... C'est... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1845, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier captures a brief encounter between three formally dressed gentlemen. The figures, distinguished by tall hats, long coats, a cane, and a pipe, appear engaged in a serious conversation or handshake. Rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner, the image conveys immediacy while retaining enough detail to identify each participant’s attire and demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The work exemplifies Daumier’s habit of turning everyday social scenes into subtle commentary. By portraying well‑dressed men in a moment of polite exchange, the print hints at the performative nature of status and the underlying tensions of a society navigating the shift from the July Monarchy toward republican ideals.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the image relies on the fluidity of stone‑based printing, allowing Daumier to produce bold, gestural lines and tonal variations quickly. The sketchy, almost spontaneous quality reflects his practice of working rapidly, a method that preserved the vitality of his observations while facilitating multiple impressions for publication.
History & Provenance
Daumier produced the print for the satirical journals of his time, such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, which disseminated his political and social critiques to a broad readership. The lithograph forms part of his extensive output that documented French public life from the 1830 Revolution through the upheavals leading to the Second Empire.
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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…
