Who painted Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu...?

Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1847.

Where can I see Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu...?

Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu...?

Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu... is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu...?

Museum-quality prints of Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu... are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu...

Honoré Daumier , 1847

Un Enfant qui s'amuse de peu... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1847, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier is a modestly sized black‑and‑white print that captures a quiet interior scene. The composition centers on a child absorbed in a simple pastime, while two adults observe, lending the work a narrative tension between youthful innocence and adult scrutiny.

Subject & Meaning

The image juxtaposes a carefree youngster with the attentive gestures of surrounding adults, suggesting a commentary on how society watches and interprets the purity of youth. Daumier often employed such contrasts to highlight the disparity between the unblemished perspective of children and the self‑interest of the adult world.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work relies on swift, sketch‑like lines that convey immediacy and movement. The monochrome palette emphasizes tonal contrast, while the loose rendering of figures and furnishings creates a sense of spontaneity, characteristic of Daumier’s satirical prints.

History & Provenance

The print emerged from Daumier’s prolific output for Parisian periodicals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari. Produced during a turbulent era spanning the 1830 Revolution to the collapse of the Second Empire, the work circulated among the readership of these satirical journals, reinforcing Daumier’s reputation as a visual critic of his time.

Context

Set against a backdrop of political unrest and social critique, the lithograph reflects Daumier’s broader project of using everyday scenes to expose the hypocrisies of the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy. The modest interior and ordinary activity serve as a vehicle for broader commentary on power dynamics in mid‑nineteenth‑century France.

Un Père qui fait sucer à son fils..., Honoré Daumier

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Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

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…