Artwork
Soyez tranquille bourgeois, on connait
Soyez tranquille bourgeois, on connait is an ink print by Honoré Daumier. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled Soyez tranquille bourgeois, on connait presents a brief encounter between two men whose starkly different appearances and manners underscore the social divisions of 19th‑century France. Executed in the early 1840s, the print captures a moment of dialogue that reveals more about class contrast than about the individuals themselves.
Subject & Meaning
On the left, a disheveled figure speaks with vigorous gestures, his rough attire and animated posture suggesting a lower‑class background. Opposite him, a neatly dressed gentleman remains composed, his restrained demeanor reflecting middle‑ or upper‑class respectability. The juxtaposition invites viewers to consider how conversation bridges, yet also highlights, societal hierarchies.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed the lithographic process, drawing directly onto a stone surface with greasy crayon before printing. The stark black‑and‑white rendering emphasizes line and contrast, while the exaggerated gestures recall his caricatural roots in satirical journalism. The composition’s simplicity focuses attention on the figures’ expressive differences.
Context
Created during a period of rapid urbanization and political unrest in France, the image mirrors contemporary concerns about class tension and the growing visibility of the working poor in Parisian life. Daumian’s work often commented on such social issues, using everyday scenes to critique the bourgeois order.
Legacy
While not among Daumier’s most widely reproduced works, this lithograph exemplifies his ability to fuse humor with social observation. It continues to be cited in studies of 19th‑century print culture as a concise visual commentary on class interaction and the artist’s enduring engagement with French society.
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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…
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