Who painted Désagrément de causer avec les gens...?

Désagrément de causer avec les gens... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1840.

Where can I see Désagrément de causer avec les gens...?

Désagrément de causer avec les gens... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Désagrément de causer avec les gens...?

Désagrément de causer avec les gens... is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Désagrément de causer avec les gens...

Honoré Daumier , 1840

Désagrément de causer avec les gens... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The lithograph presents a charged encounter between two individuals.

About this work

Overview

The lithograph presents a charged encounter between two individuals. One figure, eyes widened and arms flailing, appears to be speaking forcefully, while the other clutches the speaker’s arm, restraining him. The composition captures a moment of heightened emotional exchange through stark contrasts of line and tone.

Subject & Meaning

The work explores the dynamics of confrontation, suggesting a commentary on the friction inherent in social discourse. By emphasizing the physical grip and exaggerated gestures, the image hints at power struggles and the volatility of public interaction.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the piece relies on bold, decisive lines and pronounced shading to delineate form and convey tension. The stark contrasts and fluid strokes are characteristic of the artist’s approach, reinforcing the immediacy of the scene.

History & Provenance

Created by Honoré Daumier, the print aligns with his broader oeuvre of socially charged imagery. It reflects his ongoing interest in depicting everyday confrontations and the underlying tensions of 19th‑century urban life.

Context

Daumier’s prints often served as visual critiques of contemporary society, employing satire and exaggerated expression to highlight absurdities in public behavior. This lithograph continues that tradition, focusing on a personal dispute as a microcosm of broader social unrest.

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.