Who painted Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter ...?

Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter ... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1855.

Where can I see Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter ...?

Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter ... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter ...?

Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter ... is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter ...

Honoré Daumier , 1855

Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Honoré Daumée’s lithograph titled *Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter…* captures a quiet domestic moment.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumée’s lithograph titled *Je crois pouvoir dire, sans me flatter…* captures a quiet domestic moment. At its centre a woman holds a decorative vase, while an elderly man and a small child stand nearby, their gazes fixed on the object. The composition draws attention to the simple yet detailed observation of everyday life that characterises much of Daumée’s work.

Subject & Meaning

The scene presents three generations engaged with a single household item, suggesting a shared curiosity and the transmission of cultural values within the family unit. By focusing on the act of examining the ornate pot, the print reflects on the rituals of domesticity and the subtle social bonds that link age groups in a common environment.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on fine line work and tonal contrasts to render texture and depth. Daumée’s handling of light and shadow emphasizes the gleam of the pot and the attentive expressions of the figures, while the simplified background keeps the viewer’s focus on the interaction among the characters.

History & Provenance

Created during Daumée’s prolific period of social genre scenes, the lithograph was produced in the mid‑19th century and circulated among the artist’s print collections. It has since entered public holdings, where it is displayed as an example of his interest in portraying ordinary moments with observational precision.

Artist & collection

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.