Artwork

La parisiens dans l'attente de la ...comète

La parisiens dans l'attente de la ...comète, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1857
La parisiens dans l'attente de la ...comète, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1857

La parisiens dans l'attente de la ...comète is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

La parisiens dans l'attente de la comète, a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, portrays a moment of collective anticipation as three figures gaze upwards, set against the urban landscape of 19th-century Paris.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a shared experience of curiosity among the three depicted individuals, conveying a sense of communal engagement with an expected celestial event, implied to be a comet sighting.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work showcases Daumier's use of this medium to convey nuanced expressions and capture the interplay of figures within an urban backdrop, characteristic of his observational style.

Context

The piece reflects the social and cultural climate of Paris during the 19th century, highlighting the intersection of everyday life with extraordinary events, as well as the public's fascination with astronomical occurrences.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of this work are not highlighted, it contributes to Daumier's broader body of work documenting 19th-century Parisian life, potentially influencing subsequent depictions of urban communal experiences.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.