Who painted L'Ane et les deux voleurs?

L'Ane et les deux voleurs was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1862.

Where can I see L'Ane et les deux voleurs?

L'Ane et les deux voleurs is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is L'Ane et les deux voleurs?

L'Ane et les deux voleurs is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

L'Ane et les deux voleurs

Honoré Daumier , 1862

L'Ane et les deux voleurs is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

L'Ane et les deux voleurs is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1862. The work exemplifies Daumier's use of satire to critique societal ills, characteristic of his prolific output for French publications like La Caricature and Le Charivari during the 19th century.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a chaotic scene of two individuals struggling over a donkey on rugged terrain, with one person being kicked and the other clinging in fear. This composition likely functions as an allegory highlighting human folly or the misallocation of priorities.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed lithography, a technique allowing direct drawing onto a stone slab, to achieve sharp lines and smooth shading. This method facilitated rapid production of multiple copies, suiting the artist's prolific career in print media.

History & Provenance

Created in 1862, this work falls within Daumier's period of active commentary on French society between the 1830 Revolution and the 1870 fall of the Second Empire. His republican and democratic views underpin the satire, though specific provenance details of this piece are not provided.

Context

L'Ane et les deux voleurs reflects Daumier's broader critique of French social and political structures during a tumultuous period. His work was disseminated through popular publications, making satirical commentary accessible to a wide audience.

Legacy

As part of Daumier's extensive satirical oeuvre, L'Ane et les deux voleurs contributes to his enduring legacy as a sharp critic of 19th-century French society, though its individual impact within his corpus is not distinctly outlined in the provided information.

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.