Artwork
Bertrand, dis donc, s'ils allaient nous faire...
Bertrand, dis donc, s'ils allaient nous faire... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The composition centers on two men engaged in dialogue amid a noisy crowd, their exaggerated features and gestures underscoring the work’s satirical tone.
Created in 1838, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier captures a bustling urban tableau rendered on cheap newsprint. The composition centers on two men engaged in dialogue amid a noisy crowd, their exaggerated features and gestures underscoring the work’s satirical tone. Daumier’s reputation as a prolific caricaturist for periodicals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari informs the print’s intent to comment on contemporary French life.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures—a gentleman in a top hat clutching a cane and a skeletal figure dressed in ostentatious attire—serve as visual metaphors for the pretensions of the wealthy class. The skeleton brandishes a banner that lampoons the excesses of the rich, while surrounding passersby appear to shout and argue, amplifying Daumier’s critique of social hierarchy and the moral decay he perceived in the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the image exploits the immediacy of the medium, allowing Daumier to produce swift, sketch‑like lines that convey movement and disorder. The use of newsprint as a substrate reflects his aim to disseminate the work widely and cheaply. Rough, energetic strokes dominate the scene, emphasizing the chaotic atmosphere and reinforcing the satirical edge characteristic of Daumier’s caricatural approach.
History & Provenance
During the 1830s, Daumier supplied a steady stream of political cartoons to French newspapers, and this print was likely circulated alongside those publications. Its production on inexpensive paper ensured broad accessibility, aligning with the artist’s republican sympathies and desire to reach a mass audience. The work remains a documented example of Daumier’s engagement with the press and his visual commentary on the social tensions of his era.
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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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