Artwork
Baillot
Baillot is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1833, *Baillot* is a lithographic print by the French artist Honoré Daumier. Known for his incisive caricatures, Daumier employed the medium to comment on contemporary society. The image presents a solitary figure in formal dress, rendered with the stark contrasts characteristic of early 19th‑century lithography.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a well‑dressed man, coat and vest dark, cravat white, standing with his hands in his pockets and a scowling expression directed to his right. The pose and severe facial line suggest discontent or criticism, aligning with Daumier’s habit of using portraiture to hint at broader social dissatisfaction.
Technique & Style
Daumier executed the work on a stone lithographic plate, employing fine, gestural lines to delineate clothing folds and facial features. The limited tonal range and bold outlines create a crisp, immediate visual impact, typical of his prints for satirical journals where speed and clarity were essential.
History & Provenance
Produced during Daumier’s early period as a contributor to the Parisian satirical papers *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, the print reflects the political atmosphere after the 1830 Revolution. While specific ownership records are sparse, the work has been documented in several catalogues of Daumier’s prints and appears in museum collections focusing on 19th‑century French graphic art.
Context
The lithograph emerged at a time when Daumier, a self‑identified republican, used his art to critique the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy. *Baillot* fits within this broader program of visual commentary, employing a single, seemingly ordinary individual to embody the tensions of post‑revolutionary France.
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.
