Artwork

Il est charmant je vous dis...

Il est charmant je vous dis..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1840
Il est charmant je vous dis..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1840

Il est charmant je vous dis... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled *Il est charmant je vous dis…* presents a quiet domestic scene: two elderly women seated at a small table, sharing tea. One woman lifts a cup, while the other points toward a tiny dog perched nearby. The composition captures a moment of convivial conversation, rendered with careful attention to the figures’ expressions and gestures.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on the intimacy of everyday social interaction among older women, emphasizing companionship and shared amusement. Their animated faces and the inclusion of a pet suggest a warm, familiar bond, reflecting the modest pleasures of domestic life and the subtle dynamics of friendship in 19th‑century French society.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, Daumier employs the medium’s capacity for fine line work to delineate the women’s distinct facial features and the texture of their clothing. The contrast between bold outlines and delicate shading creates depth, while the crisp rendering of the tea cup and dog highlights his skill in portraying ordinary objects with nuance.

Context

Created during Daumée’s prolific period of social commentary, the image aligns with his broader interest in depicting the lives of ordinary people. The scene reflects mid‑1800s French customs of tea‑time gatherings, offering a glimpse into the domestic routines and gendered spaces that characterized urban middle‑class life at the 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.