Artwork
Ath. L. Charles Coquerel
Ath. L. Charles Coquerel 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.
About this work
It is part of the Romanticism movement and is held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
This portrait shows a man with a serious expression, wearing round glasses and a dark jacket. He has his hands clasped together in front of him.
The man's facial features are detailed, with a prominent nose and chin. His hair is neatly combed, and he appears to be sitting in a formal pose.
The portrait is a lithograph, created by Honoré Daumier in 1849. It is part of the Romanticism movement and is held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington. If you're interested in learning more about lithography, you can explore the technique next.
Overview
Created in 1849, this lithographic portrait by Honoré Daumier depicts a formally dressed man with round spectacles, a prominent nose, and a composed expression. The figure’s hands are clasped before him, and his hair is neatly arranged, conveying a dignified yet slightly exaggerated presence typical of Daumier’s satirical approach.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Ath. L. Charles Coquerel, is rendered with a seriousness that contrasts with Daumier’s usual caricature, suggesting a subtle critique of the individual’s public role. By emphasizing facial features and posture, the work hints at the tension between respectable appearance and the artist’s underlying commentary on authority.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the image employs fine line work to capture detailed facial anatomy while maintaining the bold, graphic quality characteristic of Daumier’s prints. The medium allows for rapid reproduction, aligning with the artist’s prolific output for periodicals and reinforcing the work’s satirical intent through crisp, exaggerated contours.
History & Provenance
The lithograph belongs to Daumier’s extensive body of work produced for the republican‑leaning journals La Caricature and Le Charivari, where he regularly targeted the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy. It entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s 19th‑century print holdings.
Context
Emerging during the Romantic era, the piece reflects the period’s preoccupation with individual expression and social critique. Daumier’s engagement with contemporary politics through visual satire placed him at the forefront of a movement that used print media to challenge established power structures and shape public opinion.
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.
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Docteur Prunelle
Ath. L. Charles Coquerel