Artwork

Vois-tu petit, t'as tort...

Vois-tu petit, t'as tort..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1849
Vois-tu petit, t'as tort..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1849

Vois-tu petit, t'as tort... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1849, the lithograph *Vois‑tu petit, t’as tort…* is a work by French printmaker Honoré Daumier. It belongs to his extensive series of satirical images that targeted the social and political climate of the July Monarchy and the early Second Republic. The piece exemplifies Daumier’s use of humor and visual irony to comment on contemporary power structures.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a modest kitchen interior where two men converse: one stands behind a table wearing a chef’s hat and apron, while the other sits on a stool in plain white garments. The quiet exchange, set against a dimly lit backdrop, suggests an ordinary moment that invites reflection on class distinctions and the everyday lives of working people, aligning with Daumier’s republican sympathies.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work relies on stark contrasts of light and shadow to model the figures and create atmospheric depth. Daumier’s handling of chiaroscuro emphasizes the foreground subjects, while the simplified background elements keep the focus on the interaction. The line work remains brisk and expressive, characteristic of his caricatural approach yet grounded in realistic detail.

History & Provenance

Daumier produced the print for the satirical journals *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, venues that circulated his political commentary to a broad readership. Though originally distributed as a newspaper illustration, the lithograph later entered private collections and museum holdings, where it has been cited as a representative example of mid‑nineteenth‑century French political printmaking.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.