Artwork
Grand bal a petit orchestre... (recto); Une société en nom collectif (verso)
Grand bal a petit orchestre... (recto); Une société en nom collectif (verso) 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
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled Grand bal à petit orchestre (recto) and Une société en nom collectif (verso) presents a bustling ballroom scene. Executed in the lithographic medium, the print juxtaposes a crowded dance floor with a diminutive orchestra tucked in a corner, offering a snapshot of 19th‑century social entertainment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition is populated by exaggerated, almost cartoonish figures whose stretched faces and flamboyant dress convey both merriment and a subtle critique of contemporary manners. By rendering the orchestra as almost lost amid the revelry, Daumier hints at the disorder that can underlie seemingly refined gatherings.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed the lithographic process to achieve bold, fluid lines and a lively tonal range. The print’s caricatural style—marked by distorted proportions and lively brush‑like strokes—reflects his satirical approach, while the contrast between densely packed dancers and the small, detailed orchestra demonstrates his skill in balancing chaos and focus.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier’s prolific period of social commentary, the work was produced as a two‑sided print, a format he often used to juxtapose related scenes. While specific exhibition or ownership records are scarce, the lithograph remains part of the artist’s extensive oeuvre that documented Parisian life in the mid‑1800s.
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.
