Artwork
De l'utilité de la crinoline pour frauder l'octroi
De l'utilité de la crinoline pour frauder l'octroi is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
De l'utilité de la crinoline pour frauder l'octroi is a 1857 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, featuring two women in elaborate, voluminous crinoline dresses.
Subject & Meaning
The print satirically depicts one woman with her skirt lifted, exposing concealed goods, commenting on the prevalence of customs evasion in 19th-century society and the clever, yet absurd, methods employed to circumvent regulations.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work showcases Daumier's characteristic use of the medium for social commentary, with bold lines and simplified forms emphasizing the narrative's humorous and critical aspects.
History & Provenance
Created in 1857, the lithograph reflects the contemporary social landscape, though specific ownership and exhibition histories are not detailed here.
Context
This work is part of Daumier's broader oeuvre critiquing 19th-century French society, using satire to highlight everyday struggles and the human propensity for rule evasion.
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.
