Artwork

Henri!... vous me jugez bien mal!...

Henri!... vous me jugez bien mal!..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1838
Henri!... vous me jugez bien mal!..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1838

Henri!... vous me jugez bien mal!... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Henri!

About this work

Overview

Henri!... vous me jugez bien mal!... is a lithograph on newsprint created by Honoré Daumier in 1838. The print showcases Daumier's skill as a caricaturist and his use of satire to comment on contemporary society.

Subject & Meaning

The lithograph depicts two men in a conversational pose, their simple attire and expressive gestures suggesting a moment of drama or tension. The title implies a spoken exchange, inviting the viewer to infer the context and meaning behind the scene.

Technique & Style

The print is characterized by loose, rough drawing and exaggerated figures, reflecting Daumier's rapid and spontaneous style. The use of lithography on newsprint indicates a mass-produced work, intended for a wide audience.

Context

Daumier created this work during a period of significant political upheaval in France, and his art often critiqued the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy from a republican democratic perspective.

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.