Who painted Docteur Prunelle?

Docteur Prunelle was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1833.

Where can I see Docteur Prunelle?

Docteur Prunelle is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Docteur Prunelle?

Docteur Prunelle is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Docteur Prunelle

Honoré Daumier , 1833

Docteur Prunelle is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1833, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier belongs to his prolific series of satirical prints produced during the July Monarchy. Distributed through the popular periodicals La Caricature and Le Charivari, the work exemplifies Daumier’s use of the print medium to comment on contemporary French society.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a stout, middle‑aged man dressed in a tight, antiquated suit with a bulging coat, trousers tucked into high boots, and a small mustache. His round face bears a severe expression, suggesting an authority figure—likely a caricature of a real individual, hinted at by the caption “M. Prune.” The exaggerated rendering underscores Daumier’s intent to mock the pretensions of power.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on bold, rough lines and dense dark areas to accentuate the figure’s corpulence and the satirical tone. Daumier’s hand‑drawn approach, with its deliberate exaggeration and minimal shading, aligns with his characteristic caricatural style that emphasizes social critique through visual distortion.

History & Provenance

Published in the early 1830s, the print circulated in the anti‑monarchical press, reaching a wide readership eager for political satire. Daumier signed the piece, confirming his authorship, while the caption identifies the subject, linking the work to contemporary public figures of the period.

Context

During the July Monarchy, Daumier positioned himself as a republican observer, targeting not only the monarchy but also the clergy and other elite institutions. This lithograph fits within his broader campaign to expose the absurdities of authority through accessible, mass‑produced imagery.

Legacy

Daumier’s lithographs, including this piece, helped establish caricature as a potent tool for political commentary in 19th‑century France. The work continues to be studied for its incisive portrayal of power and its influence on later generations of satirical artists.

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.