Artwork
Décidément elle est bien malade!
Décidément elle est bien malade! 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 titled Décidément elle est bien malade! presents a crowded tableau in which several onlookers gather around a cradle. A shrouded infant lies beneath a cloth bearing the inscription “LOI DU 31 AOÛT,” anchoring the scene in a specific legislative reference.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes the solemnity of a newborn with the absurdity of public reaction, as the surrounding figures display exaggerated, almost caricatural expressions. Through this visual irony, Daumier critiques the societal and political climate surrounding the law enacted on 31 August, suggesting a collective unease or ridicule toward contemporary reforms.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print showcases Daumier’s characteristic bold line work and stark contrasts, which amplify the cartoon‑like quality of the figures. The medium’s capacity for rapid reproduction allowed the artist to emphasize gestural exaggeration and satirical detail, hallmarks of his visual commentary.
Context
Created in the wake of the 1851 “Loi du 31 Août,” a decree that sparked public debate, the lithograph reflects the mid‑nineteenth‑century French press’s role in political discourse. Daumian prints such as this circulated widely, contributing to the era’s vibrant culture of visual satire.
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.
