Artwork

C'est pourtant la que j'ai gravé mon chiffre ...

C'est pourtant la que j'ai gravé mon chiffre ..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1849
C'est pourtant la que j'ai gravé mon chiffre ..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1849

C'est pourtant la que j'ai gravé mon chiffre ... 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

Overview

C'est pourtant la que j'ai gravé mon chiffre is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1849, featuring a contemplative figure in a serene, minimalist setting.

Subject & Meaning

A man in profile is depicted lost in thought, gazing upwards at a simplified tree, conveying a moment of calm contemplation, characteristic of Daumier's blend of social observation and artistic nuance.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work showcases Daumier's mastery of the medium through a simple, yet effective composition, emphasizing the subject's introspection against a plain background.

Context

This lithograph reflects the mid-19th-century artistic inclination towards capturing everyday moments and emotions, with Daumier's unique approach to minimalist representation.

Legacy

While not widely recognized as a seminal work, it exemplifies Daumier's contribution to the development of socially aware, yet aesthetically restrained, printmaking in 19th-century France.

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.