Artwork
Ant. Laurent Pagnerre
Ant. Laurent Pagnerre is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Ant.
About this work
Overview
Ant. Laurent Pagnerre is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, caricaturing a figure with pronounced facial and hair features, set amidst a scene of literary activity.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, likely a literary figure, is depicted with a formal coat, holding two open publications, and surrounded by paper stacks. The exaggeration conveys a humorous critique of 19th-century French literary culture and the satire prevalent within it.
Technique & Style
Created using lithography, a printmaking technique allowing for mass production of images, the work showcases Daumier's characteristic use of caricature to comment on contemporary society.
History & Provenance
While specific provenance details are not provided, the work is attributed to Honoré Daumier, active in 19th-century France, suggesting its creation during this period.
Context
This lithograph reflects the satirical climate of 19th-century France, where artists like Daumier used caricature to engage with and critique literary and social elites.
Legacy
As part of Daumier's oeuvre, 'Ant. Laurent Pagnerre' contributes to the enduring legacy of 19th-century French satire and the evolution of caricature as a social commentary tool.
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.
