Artwork
L'empire c'est la paix
L'empire c'est la paix is a print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
L'empire c'est la paix is a 1870 print by Honoré Daumier, created using gillotype on newsprint. It is a satirical work that reflects Daumier's commentary on the Second French Empire.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a crude map of Europe, a giant hand holding keys, and a small figure beside a flag-bearing building. The imagery likely symbolizes the Empire's control over the continent. The accompanying phrase 'L'Empire c'est la paix' (The Empire is peace) is a commentary on the Empire's claimed values.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by a loose, sketchy style, consistent with the rapid production typical of newspaper illustrations. The gillotype process on newsprint adds to the sense of immediacy and informality.
Context
Produced during the final years of the Second French Empire, the print is part of Daumier's extensive commentary on French social and political life, aligning with his republican and democratic views.
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.
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Abandoned Village
Man near Entry of a Ruinous Hedge
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