Who painted Ah!... les comètes...?

Ah!... les comètes... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1858.

Where can I see Ah!... les comètes...?

Ah!... les comètes... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Ah!... les comètes...?

Ah!... les comètes... is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Ah!... les comètes...

Honoré Daumier , 1858

Ah!... les comètes... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Ah!

About this work

Overview

Ah!... les comètes... is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1858. It is a satirical print that showcases Daumier's commentary on the social and political climate of mid-19th-century France.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a worried older man standing in a crowd, gazing up at a comet in the sky. The image and accompanying caption humorously critique the superstition surrounding comets, suggesting they bring bad luck or even death.

Technique & Style

As a lithograph, Ah!... les comètes... exemplifies Daumier's skill in this printmaking technique. The work is characteristic of his satirical style, which often employed humor to comment on contemporary issues.

Context

Daumier produced Ah!... les comètes... during the Second Empire, a period marked by significant social and political tension in France. His work was often published in satirical journals such as Le Charivari, where he critiqued the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy.

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.