Who painted Dites donc, mame Giboulard...?

Dites donc, mame Giboulard... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1843.

Where can I see Dites donc, mame Giboulard...?

Dites donc, mame Giboulard... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Dites donc, mame Giboulard...?

Dites donc, mame Giboulard... is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Dites donc, mame Giboulard...

Honoré Daumier , 1843

Dites donc, mame Giboulard... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1843, *Dites donc, mame Giboulard…* is a lithographic print by Honoré Daumier. The work belongs to the artist’s prolific output of satirical images that appeared in mid‑nineteenth‑century French periodicals. It captures a brief street encounter rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner, characteristic of Daumier’s approach to social commentary through print.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts two women at its centre: one passes an object to the other, who leans on a cane, while a top‑hat‑clad man with a rifle watches from the background. The composition suggests a moment of everyday exchange observed by an armed figure, hinting at the tension between civilian life and the militarized presence that marked the politically turbulent era.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, Daumier employs rapid, gestural lines that convey movement and immediacy. The figures are outlined with minimal shading, allowing facial expressions and gestures to emerge with a lively realism despite the work’s sketch‑like quality. The rough urban backdrop, with its uneven walls and puddles, reinforces the informal, on‑the‑spot quality of the image.

History & Provenance

Daumier produced the print for the satirical journals *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, venues that regularly featured his critiques of the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy. The lithograph reflects his republican sympathies during a period of French political upheaval, aligning the artwork with the broader press campaigns that challenged established authority.

Context

The 1840s in France were marked by frequent clashes between republican forces and the ruling monarchy. Daumier’s prints served as visual commentary on these conflicts, using everyday street scenes to expose underlying power dynamics. This work exemplifies how ordinary urban moments were employed to comment on broader societal tensions.

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.