Artwork
Head of a Man
Head of a Man is a watercolor drawing by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Head of a Man is a watercolor drawing created by Honoré-Victorin Daumier in 1844. It is a representation of a single male figure.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a man's face and shoulders in close-up, likely a study or sketch rather than a formal portrait. As a republican democrat, Daumier often used his art to comment on social and political issues, though this particular work's focus is more subdued.
Technique & Style
The drawing features loose, rapid brushstrokes and soft colors, including pale blue, brown, and gray, with watery edges. The background is the visible, worn texture of the paper, giving the impression of a quick study rather than a finished piece.
History & Provenance
Daumier was a prolific artist who supported himself by producing caricatures and cartoons for publications like La Caricature and Le Charivari, where he often satirized the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy.
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.
