Who painted Un Fils modèle?

Un Fils modèle was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1847.

Where can I see Un Fils modèle?

Un Fils modèle is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Un Fils modèle?

Un Fils modèle is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Un Fils modèle?

Museum-quality prints of Un Fils modèle are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Un Fils modèle

Honoré Daumier , 1847

Un Fils modèle 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, Un Fils modèle is a lithographic print by Honoré Daumier. The image captures a cramped, shadowy alley where a taller figure in a coat seizes the arm of a crouching companion. The wet pavement and faint architectural hints contribute to a tense, fleeting moment rendered in swift, gestural lines.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes a dominant, possibly authoritative individual with a smaller, submissive figure, suggesting themes of power imbalance and coercion. Daumier’s satirical eye likely targets societal hierarchies, using the intimate encounter to comment on the exploitation inherent in class or institutional relations during his era.

Technique & Style

Executed through lithography, the work relies on bold, hurried strokes that convey motion and immediacy. Daumier’s characteristic economy of line emphasizes the figures’ tension while the limited tonal range of the medium accentuates the dim, wet environment, reinforcing the sense of urgency.

Context

The print emerged amid France’s turbulent mid‑19th‑century politics, a time when Daumier contributed regularly to satirical journals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari. His republican sympathies informed a body of work that critiqued the monarchy, clergy, and other pillars of the established order.

History & Provenance

Un Fils modèle was produced for circulation in the popular press, reflecting Daumier’s role as a prolific caricaturist. While specific ownership records are scarce, the print has been preserved in several public collections, illustrating its continued relevance as a document of political satire and graphic art of the period.

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…