Who painted Entre deux fauteuils le ...monsieur par terre?

Entre deux fauteuils le ...monsieur par terre was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1854.

Where can I see Entre deux fauteuils le ...monsieur par terre?

Entre deux fauteuils le ...monsieur par terre is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Entre deux fauteuils le ...monsieur par terre?

Entre deux fauteuils le ...monsieur par terre is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Entre deux fauteuils le ...monsieur par terre

Honoré Daumier , 1854

Entre deux fauteuils le ...monsieur par terre is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph presents a solitary figure seated on the floor between two elaborately carved chairs. Each chair bears a label—‘BYZANCE’ and ‘GRECE’—and is topped with a crown motif. The background is rendered in a stippled, newspaper‑like texture, underscoring the print’s connection to contemporary satire and commentary.

Subject & Meaning

The central character, dressed in ragged, torn garments, appears bewildered, creating a stark visual contrast with the opulent chairs that symbolize ancient empires. This juxtaposition suggests a critique of social hierarchy or the absurdity of lofty pretensions when faced with poverty, a theme recurrent in Daumier’s socially engaged oeuvre.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work relies on the fluidity of greasy ink on a flat stone surface, allowing Daumier to achieve both fine line work and broad tonal areas. The textured, newspaper‑like backdrop is achieved through cross‑hatching, while the crisp lettering on the chairs demonstrates his skill in integrating textual elements into the visual narrative.

History & Provenance

Created during Daumier’s prolific period of political caricature in the mid‑19th century, the print was likely produced for a satirical journal. Original impressions remain in several European museum collections, reflecting the artist’s widespread distribution of socially critical images through the burgeoning press of his time.

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.