1851
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Un Matamore portant une... botte... is a 1851 ink by Honoré Daumier, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a guy in fancy old clothes, lunging forward with a sword. His hat is flying off, and his whole body looks twisted mid-motion. Under his feet, a tiny rolled-up paper says "Constitution"—it’s being stepped on like it’s nothing. The artist made this to poke fun at people who act tough but are really cowards. The word "Matamore" in the title means a fake brave guy, and the whole scene feels like a joke. Next, look up lithography to see how artists like Daumier made sharp, funny prints like this.
Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
