Artwork

Entre recors

Entre recors, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1865
Entre recors, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1865

Entre recors is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Entre recors, a lithograph by Honoré Daumier from 1865, exemplifies the artist's satirical approach to critiquing French society during periods of political transition.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two contrasting figures in conversation: a top-hatted, scarf-wearing individual and a capped, cane-holding man. This juxtaposition likely highlights social or political contrasts, reflecting Daumier's republican democratic critique of authority and social hierarchies.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work leverages the medium's capabilities to achieve depth and texture. A solid-colored background focuses attention on the two central figures, emphasizing their interaction and the artist's characteristic use of caricature for social commentary.

History & Provenance

Created during the Second Empire, *Entre recors* aligns with Daumier's long-standing publication in satirical outlets like *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, where he regularly targeted political and social institutions.

Context

This work is situated within Daumier's broader oeuvre of satirical prints that navigated the complexities of the July Monarchy and the Second Empire, using humor and caricature to address the contradictions of authority.

Legacy

As part of Daumier's prolific satirical output, *Entre recors* contributes to the artist's enduring legacy as a keen observer and critic of 19th-century French society, influencing subsequent generations of satirists and printmakers.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.