Artwork
Henri Monnier (Rôle de Joseph Prudhomme)
Henri Monnier (Rôle de Joseph Prudhomme) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Henri Monnier (Rôle de Joseph Prudhomme) is an 1852 lithograph by French artist Honoré Daumier, combining social commentary with caricature. The work portrays actor Henri Monnier in character as Joseph Prudhomme, captured in a dynamic pose.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph satirically depicts Joseph Prudhomme, a character embodying bourgeois values. Daumier's exaggerated representation reflects his republican critique of societal norms, targeting the complacency and self-importance of the middle class.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the piece showcases Daumier's characteristic caricature style: bold lines, exaggerated facial features (notably a large nose and slight frown), and expressive body language (mid-step, hand on hip), creating a visually striking commentary.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier's prolific period with newspapers like *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, this lithograph is part of a series on modern artists, highlighting his engagement with contemporary cultural figures and societal issues.
Context
The work is situated within Daumier's broader practice of satirizing French monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy, aligning with his democratic and republican sympathies prevalent in mid-19th-century France.
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.
