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Actualités: Mme. Potard - N'est-il pas vrai, brave turco...

Honoré Daumier , 1859

Actualités: Mme. Potard - N'est-il pas vrai, brave turco..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1859
Actualités: Mme. Potard - N'est-il pas vrai, brave turco..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1859

Actualités: Mme. Potard - N'est-il pas vrai, brave turco... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1859, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier forms part of his extensive series of satirical prints for Parisian periodicals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. The work captures a brief, humorous tableau that was intended for a newspaper audience, employing quick, sketch‑like lines that convey immediacy and wit.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents three figures in a cramped, dim interior. A gentleman in a top hat and long coat occupies the left, while a woman in an elaborate, flowing dress stands on the right. The central figure, rendered in dark attire with a mask‑like, exaggerated face, draws attention as the focal point of the joke, underscored by a caption suggesting a conversational exchange.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the print displays Daumier’s characteristic loose drawing, with bold contours and minimal shading. The rapid, almost spontaneous line work reflects the newspaper production process, allowing for swift replication and wide distribution while preserving the artist’s satirical edge.

Context

Daumier’s career spanned the turbulent years from the 1830 Revolution to the collapse of the Second French Empire. Throughout this period, he employed caricature to lampoon the monarchy, aristocracy, clergy, and prevailing social conditions, using humor as a vehicle for political commentary.

Legacy

The lithograph exemplifies Daumier’s role in shaping 19th‑century visual satire. By blending sharp social observation with accessible print media, his work influenced subsequent generations of cartoonists and reinforced the power of the printed image as a tool for public discourse.

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.

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of National Gallery of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.