Artwork
Cré nom: Elles sont plus heureuses ...
Cré nom: Elles sont plus heureuses ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Cré nom: Elles sont plus heureuses.
About this work
Overview
Cré nom: Elles sont plus heureuses... is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1841, depicting a fatigued individual set against an urban landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The print portrays a weary, disheveled figure with a hunched posture, conveying the struggles of daily life and the resilience of the individual amidst hardship. The subject's tired expression and demeanor serve as a commentary on the challenges faced by workers in contemporary society.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed sharp, expressive lines to emphasize the figure's worn state, juxtaposing vulnerability with resilience. The gray, crowded urban backdrop is rendered with simplicity, focusing attention on the figure's plight.
History & Provenance
Created in 1841, this lithograph is characteristic of Daumier's socially conscious works from this period, though specific provenance details are not provided here.
Context
This work reflects Daumier's broader practice of using lithography to critique social conditions of his time, often highlighting the struggles of the working class within urban environments.
Legacy
As part of Daumier's oeuvre, 'Cré nom: Elles sont plus heureuses...' contributes to his legacy as a pioneer in socially engaged art, influencing subsequent generations of artists addressing similar themes.
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.
