Who painted Comme quoi ... sur un lit três vaste ,,,?

Comme quoi ... sur un lit três vaste ,,, was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1854.

Where can I see Comme quoi ... sur un lit três vaste ,,,?

Comme quoi ... sur un lit três vaste ,,, is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Comme quoi ... sur un lit três vaste ,,,?

Comme quoi ... sur un lit três vaste ,,, is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Comme quoi ... sur un lit três vaste ,,,

Honoré Daumier , 1854

Comme quoi ... sur un lit três vaste ,,, is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

This lithograph shows Russia as a big, bloated man in a military coat sprawled across a map of Europe.

This lithograph shows Russia as a big, bloated man in a military coat sprawled across a map of Europe. His hat hangs low over his face. The map lines fade under his weight.

Daumier made the figure look ridiculous to poke at power. France’s leaders saw this as a threat after the Crimean War. They tried to censor the print in 1854.

It’s printed on paper, a fast way to spread political jokes back then. Check out another lithograph by Daumier, Honoré.

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled “Comme quoi … sur un lit très vaste” presents a satirical vision of Russia as an oversized, corpulent soldier sprawled across a European map. The figure’s military coat and low‑slung hat dominate the composition, while the cartographic lines beneath him appear compressed under his weight.

Subject & Meaning

The work lampoons the perceived overreach of Russian power in the mid‑19th century, using the exaggerated physique to suggest an unwieldy, invasive presence that blankets neighboring territories. By rendering the ruler as grotesquely bulky, Daumée critiques the geopolitical ambitions of the Russian Empire.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph on paper, the image relies on bold line work and stark contrasts to emphasize the figure’s mass against the delicate map. The medium allowed rapid reproduction, facilitating the spread of political commentary among a broad audience.

History & Provenance

Created shortly after the Crimean War, the print attracted the attention of French authorities, who deemed its political satire subversive and attempted to suppress it in 1854. Despite censorship efforts, copies circulated, reflecting the era’s vibrant press culture.

Context

Daumier’s caricature belongs to a tradition of 19th‑century French political lithography, where artists used humor and exaggeration to comment on international affairs. The piece reflects contemporary French anxieties about Russian expansion and the shifting balance of power in Europe.

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.