Artwork
Entre deux plongeons
Entre deux plongeons 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 *Entre deux plongeons* (1847) is a lithograph on newsprint that presents a satirical scene offering commentary on French society during a time of political turmoil and class division.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph depicts a group gathered around a table, with one figure drinking from a cup, set against a backdrop of arched windows and a stone floor. Despite the initial impression of quiet contemplation, the scene subtly critiques the social disparities and absurdities prevalent in mid-19th-century France.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed a range of tones in the lithograph to achieve depth and atmosphere. The composition, characterized by figures lost in thought, reflects his use of caricature to convey social critique, a hallmark of his style during this period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1847, *Entre deux plongeons* was likely produced for publication in a satirical journal like *La Caricature* or *Le Charivari*, outlets through which Daumier regularly voiced his republican and democratic sentiments through art.
Context
This work is situated within the broader context of Daumier's prolific output as a social commentator. While often associated with the caricature traditions of his time, *Entre deux plongeons* also touches on themes that might intersect with the more introspective aspects of Romanticism, though it is primarily a work of social satire.
Legacy
*Entre deux plongeons* contributes to Daumier's legacy as a keen observer and critic of 19th-century French society. His use of lithography for social commentary helped establish the medium as a powerful tool for political and social engagement.
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.
