Artwork
Dernier conseil des ex-ministres
Dernier conseil des ex-ministres 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 print shows a group of men in suits around a table. Papers fly. Chairs tilt. One man clutches his head like he’s just heard bad news.
Daumier made this during France’s 1848 revolution. He used lithography, a print method where greasy ink sticks to stone. It lets artists make lots of sharp, gritty images fast.
It looks like a scene from today’s news. For more like this, try Daumier, Honoré.
Overview
Dernier conseil des ex-ministres is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, created during the 1848 revolution in France. The print depicts a chaotic scene of men in a formal setting.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows a group of suited men around a table, surrounded by signs of turmoil, including flying papers and tilting chairs. One figure clutches his head in distress, conveying a sense of panic and urgency.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed lithography, a technique involving greasy ink on stone, to produce the print. This method allowed for the rapid creation of multiple sharp, detailed images, characterized by strong lines and exaggerated movements.
Context
The work reflects the tumultuous political climate of the time, capturing the emotional turmoil of a pivotal moment in French history.
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.
