Artwork
Un Faux vase du Japon faisant...
Un Faux vase du Japon faisant... 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 1855 lithograph, titled Un Faux vase du Japon faisant..., is executed on newsprint. The work presents a domestic interior where a woman, dressed in dark clothing, closely inspects a vase while three men stand behind her, watching with interest. The composition balances curiosity with a subtle social observation, characteristic of Daumier’s print output.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a moment of collective attention on an object described as a “false Japanese vase,” suggesting a commentary on contemporary taste for exotic imports. By placing a woman at the center of the examination, Daumier may be highlighting the role of domestic consumers in the diffusion of fashionable, often counterfeit, goods within mid‑century French society.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed lithography on cheap newsprint, a medium that allowed rapid, affordable reproduction. The print’s tonal contrasts, dark garments against the light‑toned vase, enhance depth and draw focus to the central figures. Fine line work and subtle shading give texture to the fabrics and surface of the vase, demonstrating Daumier’s skill in rendering detail within a single‑color medium.
History & Provenance
Created during a prolific period when Daumier contributed satirical images to publications such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, the lithograph reflects his engagement with current events and popular culture. While originally circulated as a newspaper supplement, the piece later entered private collections and museum holdings, illustrating the transition of his prints from ephemera to collectible art objects.
Context
Mid‑19th‑century France experienced a surge of interest in Japanese decorative arts, often imported in imitation. Daumier’s work, produced amid his republican sympathies, frequently critiqued the aristocracy and clergy; this print extends that critique to the consumerist fascination with foreign aesthetics, subtly questioning the authenticity and value of such trends.
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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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