Artwork
Depuis que Zémire sait qu'elle va me couter quinze francs ...
Depuis que Zémire sait qu'elle va me couter quinze francs ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
This lithograph shows two women sitting outside. One looks annoyed. The other seems calm but tired.
Daumier made this during France’s 1848 revolutions when money worries were everywhere. The title jokes about cost—a man grumbling that a woman’s love now costs fifteen francs.
See how he uses simple lines to show real moods. It feels like a snapshot.
Look up Daumier, Honoré next.
Overview
Depuis que Zémire sait qu'elle va me couter quinze francs is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, presenting a candid scene of two women in outdoor conversation, characterized by nuanced emotional expressions and understated compositional elements.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph captures a moment of contrasting emotions between two women, one visibly annoyed and the other calm yet weary. The title humorously alludes to the financial burdens of romantic relationships, reflecting the economic anxieties prevalent during the 1848 French revolutions.
Technique & Style
Daumier employs simple, expressive lines to convey the subjects' moods, achieving a sense of realism and intimacy. The composition's subtlety and the focus on emotional nuance exemplify Daumier's ability to distill complex social interactions into poignant, everyday scenes.
History & Provenance
Created amidst the turmoil of the 1848 French revolutions, this lithograph reflects the period's financial struggles, using a relatable, humorous anecdote to comment on the era's economic pressures.
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.
