Artwork

Et les cinq francs de ce matin?

Et les cinq francs de ce matin?, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1839
Et les cinq francs de ce matin?, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1839

Et les cinq francs de ce matin? is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Et les cinq francs de ce matin? is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, dated 1839, portraying a comedic, confrontational scene between two figures.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a heated exchange between a man in a coat and hat and a woman in a bonnet, their exaggerated facial expressions conveying anger and surprise. The scene satirizes a common, everyday marital or domestic dispute, highlighting the absurdity of such conflicts.

Technique & Style

Characterized by bold, expressive lines and rapid execution, the work showcases Daumier's mastery of lithography. The loose, sketch-like quality belies the medium's technical demands, achieving a sense of spontaneity.

Context

This lithograph exemplifies Daumier's interest in capturing the humor and complexities of 19th-century French everyday life, often focusing on the middle class and their mundane struggles.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of this piece are not highlighted, it contributes to Daumier's broader reputation as a keen observer of human nature and a prolific lithographer who used satire to comment on contemporary society.

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.