Who painted Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie...?

Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1836.

Where can I see Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie...?

Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie...?

Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie... is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie...

Honoré Daumier , 1836

Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie.

About this work

Overview

Bertrand, j'adore l'industrie... (1836) is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier depicting a confrontational encounter between two caricatured figures, embodying the artist's satirical commentary on 19th-century French society and industrialization.

Subject & Meaning

The print portrays a clash between a worker (symbolized by a mallet) and a likely industrialist or bourgeois figure (conveyed through absurd, upscale attire). The scene critiques the exploitative dynamics between labor and capital during France's industrial ascent.

Technique & Style

Daumier's characteristic caricature style is evident in the exaggerated facial expressions and attire. The bold, expressive lines and simplified forms, typical of lithography, enhance the work's immediacy and satirical punch.

Context

Created in 1836, the work reflects the social tensions of France's early industrial era, where the growing gap between workers and industrialists was a pressing issue. Daumier's satire resonated with the broader critique of social inequality.

Legacy

This lithograph exemplifies Daumier's influence on political satire and caricature. Its direct, humorous approach to social commentary anticipates the format of modern political memes, ensuring its relevance across centuries.

Artist & collection

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.