Artwork
En famille
En famille is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1847 lithograph titled “En famille” presents a quiet domestic interior. The composition centers on three figures—a senior woman, a child, and a younger woman resting against a railing—set against a backdrop of water and tiled walls. The work conveys a moment of calm togetherness, illustrating everyday family life through a restrained, observational lens.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a subtle exchange among the three figures, suggesting a bond of care and familiarity. The elder’s presence, the child’s innocence, and the younger woman’s relaxed posture together evoke themes of generational continuity and the quiet intimacy that defines ordinary household interactions.
Technique & Style
Created as a lithograph, the image relies on the medium’s capacity for fine tonal variation and delicate line work. Daumier employs a muted palette and simplified background elements, allowing the figures to dominate the visual field while the tiled walls and water provide a modest spatial context typical of mid‑19th‑century French printmaking.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1847, the print belongs to Daumier’s early period, when he frequently explored social scenes and domestic subjects. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been included in several collections of 19th‑century French prints, reflecting its relevance to studies of Daumier’s broader oeuvre and the era’s visual culture.
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.
