Artwork
Dites donc, monsieur Beaufumé ...
Dites donc, monsieur Beaufumé ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph, titled *Dites donc, monsieur Beaufumé …*, portrays a bustling public bath or steam room. The composition is crowded with robed figures, and three men dominate the foreground, engaged in casual conversation while one smokes a pipe.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a moment of everyday social interaction in a communal space, highlighting the relaxed, convivial atmosphere of the bathhouse. Daumier’s choice of subject allows a subtle commentary on the habits and manners of the public when gathered in shared, semi‑private settings.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work relies on Daumier’s characteristic crisp line work to delineate figures and convey movement. The fine, energetic strokes render the swirling steam and the density of the crowd, giving the scene a vivid, almost tactile presence.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier’s prolific period of printmaking, the lithograph reflects his ongoing interest in satirical depictions of contemporary life. It remains part of collections that document his extensive output of socially observant prints.
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.
