Artwork

Un Quart d'heure après sa mort il était encore en vie (A Quarter of an Hour after His Death, He Was Still Alive)

Un Quart d'heure après sa mort il était encore en vie (A Quarter of an Hour after His Death, He Was Still Alive) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Un Quart d'heure après sa mort il était encore en vie is a 1866 lithograph on newsprint by Honoré Daumier, a French artist known for satirical commentary on 19th-century French society.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a chaotic scene of angry, exaggerated faces, with one figure holding a banner that reads 'L’APRESSE D’UNE IDÉE PAR JOUR.' The image conveys a sense of turmoil and mocks serious ideas by portraying them as out of control.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed quick, sketchy lines to create a sense of urgency and messiness, characteristic of his satirical style. The lithographic technique allowed him to produce sharp prints from stone, suitable for mass publication.

Context

The work reflects Daumier's ongoing critique of French society during a period of political upheaval, consistent with his republican and democratic values.

Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

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.