Artwork

Gibier qui peut être chassé en toutes les saisons

Gibier qui peut être chassé en toutes les saisons, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1845
Gibier qui peut être chassé en toutes les saisons, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1845

Gibier qui peut être chassé en toutes les saisons 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

This image shows a group of men in old-fashioned clothing, standing together and looking at a piece of paper.

This image shows a group of men in old-fashioned clothing, standing together and looking at a piece of paper. They are all wearing hats and coats, and some of them have beards. One man is holding the paper, while the others are gathered around him, looking at it with interest.

The men are standing on a cobblestone street, with a few objects scattered around them. In the foreground, there is a small, round object that looks like a hat or a bowl. The background of the image is a plain wall, with no other details visible.

The image appears to be a scene from everyday life, perhaps in a city or town. The men's clothing and the setting suggest a historical time period, possibly the 19th century. To learn more about this style of art, explore the Romanticism movement.

Overview

Honoré Daumier's 1845 lithograph *Gibier qui peut être chassé en toutes les saisons* is a satirical print created during a period of political turmoil in France. Characteristic of Daumier's work for Parisian journals, it uses visual satire to critique societal figures.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a group of men in 19th-century attire gathered around a document, set against a mundane urban backdrop. The scene's everyday appearance belies its satirical intent, likely targeting authority figures or social norms of the time.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithograph, the work showcases Daumier's mastery of the medium, utilizing simple yet effective composition and detail to convey humor and social commentary, hallmarks of his caricaturist style.

History & Provenance

Created in 1845, the lithograph was part of Daumier's contributions to journals like *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, aligning with his republican views amidst the political upheaval following the 1830 Revolution.

Context

The work reflects the mid-19th century's political and social climate in France, where satire served as a vehicle for critique. Daumier's choice of subject and style catered to a wide audience through popular journals.

Legacy

As part of Daumier's extensive satirical oeuvre, *Gibier qui peut être chassé en toutes les saisons* contributes to his legacy as a pioneering caricaturist who effectively used art to engage with and critique the societal and political issues of his time.

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.