Artwork
L'amateur d'huitres
L'amateur d'huitres is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
L'amateur d'huitres is a hand-colored lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1836. It is a satirical print that exemplifies Daumier's work for Parisian journals during a period of political upheaval.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a man eating an oyster at a table, surrounded by evidence of a meal. The title, meaning 'The Lover of Oysters', suggests the subject's indulgence. Daumier's caricature likely critiques the social pretensions of the July Monarchy.
Technique & Style
The lithograph features bold lines and hand-colored touches, creating a simple yet characterful image. The use of hand-coloring adds depth and nuance to the print.
Context
Daumier produced the print during the July Monarchy, a period marked by political upheaval following the 1830 Revolution. As a republican democrat, he used his art to critique the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy.
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.
