Artwork
Commencant a trouver que l'impèriale ...
Commencant a trouver que l'impèriale ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honore Daumier’s lithograph titled “Commencant à trouver que l’impériale” portrays a rainy scene in which three figures are clustered on the roof of an omnibus. The composition is dominated by slanting lines that suggest a downpour, while the cramped grouping of the passengers conveys a palpable sense of unease.
Subject & Meaning
The three individuals appear forced to endure the elements, their body language and facial expressions hinting at discomfort and reluctant perseverance. By placing ordinary commuters in an extreme weather moment, Daumier underscores the vulnerability of everyday life when confronted with nature’s harshness.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on bold, sweeping strokes to render the rain’s movement and the figures’ cramped posture. Daumier’s use of stark contrasts and simplified forms accentuates the drama without resorting to elaborate detail, a hallmark of his approach to social observation through printmaking.
Context
The image fits within Daumier’s broader interest in urban scenes and the lived experience of Parisian citizens during the 19th century. While the specific date of creation is not recorded, the subject aligns with his frequent depictions of public transport and the quotidian struggles of the lower classes.
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.
