Artwork

Allons! mon jeune ami, une bonne poignée...

Allons! mon jeune ami, une bonne poignée..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1841
Allons! mon jeune ami, une bonne poignée..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1841

Allons! mon jeune ami, une bonne poignée... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier's 1841 lithograph *Allons! mon jeune ami, une bonne poignée...* critiques the social and political stratification of post-1830 France through satirical representation.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two men in 19th-century attire exchanging a handshake, with one figure dominating the interaction. The title *Vulgarité* and exaggerated facial expressions and postures underscore a mocking commentary on class dynamics and power imbalances.

Technique & Style

Daumier employs characteristic caricature techniques, including distorted facial features and pronounced body language, to convey satirical intent. The plain background emphasizes the absurdity of the foreground interaction.

History & Provenance

Created during Daumier's tenure with publications like *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, this work aligns with his republican democratic ideology, targeting monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy.

Context

The lithograph reflects the artist's broader practice of using printmaking as a vehicle for social commentary, accessible to a wide audience in 19th-century France.

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.