Artwork
La paix universelle étant décrétée ...
La paix universelle étant décrétée ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Honoré Daumier’s 1849 lithograph shows a crowd of comically exaggerated people.
Honoré Daumier’s 1849 lithograph shows a crowd of comically exaggerated people. One man in a big hat stands front and center, arms crossed. The city backdrop looks simple, but the figures feel alive.
Daumier often poked fun at politics in his art. This print was part of his series about social issues. His bold lines and funny shapes make the scene feel urgent even today.
Check out more of Daumier, Honoré’s work next.
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1849 lithograph, titled *La paix universelle étant décrétée…*, presents a bustling street scene populated by caricatured figures. At the centre stands a man in a wide‑brimmed hat, arms crossed, commanding attention amid a crowd of exaggerated, animated characters set against a simplified urban backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The print satirically addresses contemporary social and political concerns, using the grotesque poses and exaggerated physiognomy of the figures to lampoon public life. By juxtaposing the confident central figure with the chaotic surrounding crowd, Daumier underscores the absurdity he perceived in the societal dynamics of his time.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work showcases Daumier’s characteristic bold line work and stark contrasts. The exaggerated forms and fluid contours convey movement and humor, while the minimal architectural details focus attention on the expressive gestures of the characters.
History & Provenance
Created in 1849, the lithograph belongs to a series in which Daumier explored social issues through print media. It reflects his prolific output of politically charged images during the mid‑nineteenth century, a period when he frequently employed satire to comment on French public affairs.
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.
