Artwork
La cinquième acte a la gaité
La cinquième acte a la gaité is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
La cinquième acte à la gaité is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, portraying a scene of collective boredom in a Parisian theater box.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures the monotony of high society, focusing on a central woman in a striped dress, accompanied by a child and a leaning man, each exhibiting distinct expressions of disinterest, highlighting Daumier's social commentary on 19th-century Parisian life.
Technique & Style
As a lithograph, the work showcases Daumier's mastery of the medium, using bold lines and expressive contrasts to convey the emotional state of the characters against the detailed, ornate theater backdrop.
History & Provenance
No specific historical ownership or exhibition records are provided for this particular lithograph, though it aligns with Daumier's prolific output of socially conscious artworks during the 19th century.
Context
Created amidst the social and artistic upheavals of 19th-century France, the lithograph reflects Daumier's penchant for satirizing the bourgeoisie, a common theme in his body of work.
Legacy
La cinquième acte à la gaité contributes to Daumier's legacy as a keen observer of human nature and social class, influencing future generations of artists in their depiction of everyday life and societal critique.
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.
