Who painted Je vous assure que vous serez très bien assise?

Je vous assure que vous serez très bien assise was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1871.

Where can I see Je vous assure que vous serez très bien assise?

Je vous assure que vous serez très bien assise is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Je vous assure que vous serez très bien assise?

Je vous assure que vous serez très bien assise is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Je vous assure que vous serez très bien assise

Honoré Daumier , 1871

Je vous assure que vous serez très bien assise is a print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1871, this gillotype on newsprint by Honoré Daumèir presents a compact interior scene populated by two caricatured figures.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1871, this gillotype on newsprint by Honoré Daumèir presents a compact interior scene populated by two caricatured figures. The composition juxtaposes a formally posed woman, whose attire bears the inscription “République,” with a disheveled man leaning on a chair marked “Monarchie.” The setting includes an empty chair and a heap of clothing, suggesting a transition of authority.

Subject & Meaning

The work satirically comments on the recent shift from monarchical rule to republican governance in France. By portraying the monarchic figure as untidy and the republican woman as upright, Daumèir underscores the perceived superiority of the new regime while mocking the remnants of the old order.

Technique & Style

Executed as a gillotype—a variant of photomechanical reproduction—on inexpensive newsprint, the image retains Daumèir’s characteristic bold lines and exaggerated physiognomy. The limited tonal range and sketch‑like quality emphasize the immediacy of the political commentary, aligning the piece with his broader practice of rapid, publishable prints.

History & Provenance

Daumèir produced the print amid the turbulent aftermath of the Franco‑Prussian War and the establishment of the Third Republic. Known for contributing to satirical journals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, he likely circulated the image through similar periodicals, though the specific publication history of this particular gillotype remains undocumented.

Context

The 1870s in France were marked by intense ideological conflict between monarchist factions and republican supporters. Daumèir, a self‑identified republican democrat, used his art to critique the aristocracy, clergy, and former royalists, positioning this print within a broader visual campaign that championed republican ideals and ridiculed the vestiges of monarchical power.

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.