Artwork

Ayant eu la facheuse idée d'aller ... au bord de l'eau

Ayant eu la facheuse idée d'aller ... au bord de l'eau, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1856
Ayant eu la facheuse idée d'aller ... au bord de l'eau, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1856

Ayant eu la facheuse idée d'aller ... au bord de l'eau is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1856 lithograph, titled *Ayant eu la facheuse idée d'aller … au bord de l’eau*, presents a quiet riverside setting. The composition centers on a pair of figures seated beneath a thick canopy of foliage, their relaxed posture suggesting a moment of private leisure away from the bustle of daily life.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures an intimate domestic scene: a man and woman share a tranquil pause beside water, surrounded by trees that frame the space. Their ordinary attire and unguarded demeanor emphasize the universality of simple pleasure, inviting viewers to consider the calm that can be found in everyday encounters with nature.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, Daumier employs clean, economical lines and modest shading to delineate forms. The restrained graphic approach creates a sense of stillness, while the subtle variations in line weight convey texture in the foliage and water’s surface, reflecting the artist’s characteristic blend of realism and expressive simplicity.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑nineteenth century, the print belongs to a period when Daumier was expanding beyond his well‑known caricatures into genre scenes. The lithograph was issued as part of a series of water‑side studies, and surviving copies have appeared in several European collections, confirming its circulation among contemporary print collectors.

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.