Artwork
Comment ... tu as encore acheté un ... chapeau ...
Comment ... tu as encore acheté un ... chapeau ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1851 lithograph presents a modest interior where a man and woman converse. The composition captures a fleeting moment: the woman, cloaked and bonneted, gestures toward the man, who clutches a top hat and a newspaper, his expression one of surprise.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a domestic exchange, suggesting a dialogue about a recent purchase, hinted at by the title’s reference to a hat. The figures’ body language conveys a subtle tension, with the woman’s pointing hand and the man’s startled gaze indicating a moment of revelation or admonition.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print showcases Daumier’s skill in rendering fine details and textures, from the folds of the woman’s cloak to the crisp lines of the newspaper. The medium’s capacity for tonal variation allows a nuanced depiction of light within the confined space.
History & Provenance
Created in 1851, the lithograph belongs to Daumier’s prolific period of social commentary. It was produced as part of his series of everyday scenes, reflecting the artist’s interest in the quotidian lives of Parisian citizens during the mid‑nineteenth century.
Context
During the 1850s, lithography became a popular vehicle for disseminating images of contemporary life. Daumier, known for his satirical prints, employed the medium to document ordinary moments, situating this work within a broader tradition of French realist observation.
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.
Il admire les beautés de la nature - Plaine St. Denis
V'la un particulier qui doit ...être inquiet ...
Qui aime Bertrand aime son chien
Pochades de carnaval: C'est singulier! elle me dit que je suis Philibert Désormeaux, et que je passe pour un imbecile!! ....où diable à-t-elle sù cela?
J'la croyais mieux qu'ça ...
Le marchand de contremarques