Artwork
Un affreux cauchemar
Un affreux cauchemar is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled Un affreux cauchemar presents a nocturnal interior in which a sleeping figure lies in bed while a cluster of oversized vases appears to tumble through the air. Rendered entirely in monochrome, the print captures a moment of disarray within an otherwise tranquil bedroom, the broken vessels frozen mid‑descent.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes the calm of slumber with the violent disruption of shattered pottery, evoking the illogical logic of a nightmare. The falling vases, caught in mid‑flight, suggest an intrusion of subconscious turmoil into the domestic sphere, inviting viewers to contemplate the fragility of peace when confronted by the irrational.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work relies on the contrast of black ink against white paper to delineate form and motion. Daumier’s handling of line and shading creates a sense of depth and kinetic energy, while the stark palette heightens the tension between stillness and chaos, characteristic of his satirical and observational approach.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier’s prolific period of printmaking in the mid‑19th century, the piece reflects his interest in everyday scenes rendered with a critical eye. While specific exhibition records are limited, the lithograph has been catalogued among his lesser‑known works that explore dreamlike narratives through graphic media.
Own this work as a print
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…
