Who painted Les petits machines à écrire?

Les petits machines à écrire was painted by Hermann Paul in 1896.

Where can I see Les petits machines à écrire?

Les petits machines à écrire is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Les petits machines à écrire?

Les petits machines à écrire is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Les petits machines à écrire?

Museum-quality prints of Les petits machines à écrire are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Les petits machines à écrire

Hermann Paul , 1896

Les petits machines à écrire is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Hermann Paul. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left below image in graphite: 56 - hermann paul; lower right in stone: HPL (in monogram)

About this work

Overview

Created in 1896, this color lithograph titled Les petits machines à écrire presents a classroom scene where children sit at desks, each engaged with a miniature typewriter. The composition is set against a vivid green background reminiscent of a school wall, and the figures are distinguished by bright orange hair and simplified, flat coloration.

Subject & Meaning

The work humorously captures a slice of contemporary life, focusing on youthful interaction with technology. By portraying children earnestly operating tiny typewriters, the image comments on the growing presence of mechanized communication and the peculiar habits it engenders within society.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph on wove paper, the piece employs a color lithography process that places pigments side by side without blending, yielding crisp, uniform tones. Hermann‑Paul’s graphic approach relies on bold black shapes and minimal outlines, producing a flat, poster‑like aesthetic devoid of shading.

History & Provenance

René Georges Hermann‑Paul, a French illustrator and caricaturist active in the late 19th century, produced this print during his prolific period of satirical contributions to Parisian newspapers and journals. The work reflects his broader output of socially observant, often comic imagery.

Context

At the turn of the century, typewriters were becoming ubiquitous in offices and schools, symbolizing modern efficiency. Hermann‑Paul’s choice to depict children with these machines aligns with his recurring interest in the quirks of modernity and the ways new technologies infiltrated everyday life.