Artwork
Ah! Ma chère, quand on a un chien ...
Ah! Ma chère, quand on a un chien ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This 1848 lithograph by Honoré Daumier captures a casual encounter between two women and their dogs on a cobblestone street, set against a simplified urban backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork portrays a moment of everyday social interaction between two women, emphasizing the bond between pet owners and their companions, as well as the fashion of the era.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the piece features characteristic sketchy lines, effectively conveying the immediacy of a observed scene, with the cityscape subtly suggested in the background.
History & Provenance
Created in 1848, the lithograph reflects Daumier's interest in depicting contemporary urban life, though specific provenance details are not provided here.
Context
Part of Daumier's broader output satirizing and observing 19th-century French society, this work highlights the growing presence of pets in urban middle-class life.
Legacy
While not individually renowned, the piece contributes to Daumier's legacy as a chronicler of everyday 19th-century life, influencing subsequent depictions of urban social dynamics.
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.
