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Artwork

Un Abus de confiance

Honoré Daumier , 1842

Un Abus de confiance, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1842
Un Abus de confiance, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1842

Un Abus de confiance is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Un Abus de confiance is a 1842 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, characteristic of his socially conscious and politically charged output during this period. Executed on newsprint, it reflects its origins in a widely circulated publication.

Subject & Meaning

The lithograph depicts a top-hatted, loincloth-clad man in a state of concern or worry, standing by a body of water with distant buildings. His anxious expression and posture convey an atmosphere of tension, though the specific subject of his distress is left ambiguous, inviting interpretation of the satirical target.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed lithography on newsprint, a choice reflecting the work's intended dissemination through journals like *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. His use of caricature emphasizes the figure's emotional state and likely critiques authority figures, consistent with his republican sympathies.

History & Provenance

Created in 1842, *Un Abus de confiance* was part of Daumier's contributions to republican-leaning journals, targeting social and political injustices through satire. Specific provenance details are not provided.

Context

This work is situated within Daumier's broader critique of 19th-century French society, particularly targeting the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy. Its publication in a journal would have made the satire accessible to a broad audience.

Legacy

As part of Daumier's satirical oeuvre, *Un Abus de confiance* contributes to his legacy as a sharp commentator on French political and social life, though its individual impact within his extensive body of work is not distinctly highlighted.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

Artist

Honoré Daumier

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.

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of National Gallery of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.