Artwork
Un Diner maigre
Un Diner maigre is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Un Dîner maigre is a 1844 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a French artist renowned for his multifaceted practice in painting, sculpture, and printmaking, particularly for satirical publications.
Subject & Meaning
The print critiques class disparity through a subtle yet incisive depiction of two older men engaged in a sparse, yet intensely focused, interaction over a document, reflecting Daumier's republican democratic stance amidst France's political turmoil.
Technique & Style
Characterized by quick, sketchy lines, the lithograph conveys a sense of liveliness and immediacy, capturing the subjects' expressions and gestures with expressive economy.
History & Provenance
Created during a period of political upheaval in France, the work was likely produced for a satirical publication, aligning with Daumier's regular contributions to outlets like La Caricature and Le Charivari.
Context
Un Dîner maigre sits within Daumier's broader oeuvre of socially conscious works targeting the excesses of the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy, underscoring his commitment to social commentary.
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…
- Les Politiques de café
Au Café d'Aguesseau
Eh bien Malin! comment le trouvez vous celui-la!
Un banquet de barbistes
Argument irrésistible
Une Heureuse nouvelle
Au Café d'Aguesseau
Au restaurant a 32 sous
Une querelle d'allemand
Actionnaires de mines...
Scènes de moeurs: Comme ou dine à Paris. Diners a vingt-cing sous. Trois plates au choix du traiteur...
Un Début a la chasse