Artwork
En garde national
En garde national is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
En garde national is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1845, depicting two men in military attire with distinctly contrasting poses and facial expressions.
Subject & Meaning
The print juxtaposes a stern, upright figure embodying authority with a slouched, caricatured counterpart, highlighting Daumier's commentary on the military and societal hierarchies of his time.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed lithography to produce bold, scratchy lines, characteristic of his rapid, expressive drawing style, which lent a sense of immediacy and satire to the work.
History & Provenance
Created in 1845, specific details about the work's provenance and early exhibition history are not provided in the available information.
Context
The piece reflects Daumier's broader critique of 19th-century French society, using the military as a lens to comment on authority, class, and the human condition.
Legacy
While specific legacy details are not provided, 'En garde national' contributes to Daumier's reputation as a satirical artist, influencing future generations of printmakers and social commentators.
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.
