Who painted Ell me plait beaucoup ...?

Ell me plait beaucoup ... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1852.

Where can I see Ell me plait beaucoup ...?

Ell me plait beaucoup ... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Ell me plait beaucoup ...?

Ell me plait beaucoup ... is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Ell me plait beaucoup ...

Honoré Daumier , 1852

Ell me plait beaucoup ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

You see two men talking, with big facial expressions, wearing top hats and suits.
They look like they're from the 19th century.
A woman is in the background, adding some depth to the scene.
The men's exaggerated features make the scene humorous and interesting.
To learn more about the art of creating images like this, check out the technique: lithography.

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled “Ell me plait beaucoup” depicts a brief street‑level encounter between two men. Both figures wear the typical 19th‑century attire of top hats and dark coats, their faces rendered with pronounced, almost caricatural expressions. A partially visible woman stands behind them, contributing spatial depth without drawing focus away from the central dialogue.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a moment of casual conversation, yet Daumée’s exaggeration of the men’s features injects a satirical edge. By amplifying facial gestures, the artist comments on the performative nature of social exchange in his era, suggesting both humor and a subtle critique of bourgeois manners.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the piece relies on the medium’s capacity for bold line work and tonal variation. Daumée’s characteristic sketch‑like strokes convey immediacy, while the contrast between sharply defined figures and softer background elements highlights his interest in observational realism tempered by caricature.

History & Provenance

Created during Daumée’s prolific period of social commentary in the mid‑1800s, the lithograph was produced as part of a series that circulated among Parisian audiences. Original prints were distributed through contemporary print shops, allowing the image to reach a broad public before entering museum collections in the 20th century.

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.