Artwork
Ah! docteur... je crois... que j'suis poitrinaire!
Ah! docteur... je crois... que j'suis poitrinaire! is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Ah!
About this work
Overview
Ah! docteur... je crois... que j'suis poitrinaire! is a 1847 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a French artist known for his satirical prints.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a dramatic scene between two men in formal attire, with the standing figure reacting to a diagnosis. The image satirizes the human tendency to overreact and potentially critiques the medical profession.
Technique & Style
Daumier's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth, with strong contrasts between light and dark areas. The standing man's face is highlighted, while the seated figure's face is shadowed, adding drama to the scene.
Context
The lithograph is part of Daumier's broader body of work critiquing French society, politics, and institutions through satire, often published in journals like La Caricature and Le Charivari.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
