Artwork
La planche démontree par le prècepte ...
La planche démontree par le prècepte ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1847, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier presents an interior scene that resembles a public bathing space. Three figures occupy the composition: two upright individuals in the foreground and a seated person positioned toward the back. The work captures a moment of everyday social interaction within a confined setting.
Subject & Meaning
The print focuses on the juxtaposition of the two standing figures, whose opposing stances create visual tension, while the seated figure provides a calmer counterpoint. This arrangement emphasizes the range of human attitudes and gestures that Daumier observed in public life, inviting viewers to consider the nuances of communal behavior.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the image relies on economical line work to delineate forms and convey expression. Daumier’s handling of the medium allows for swift, gestural strokes that suggest movement and emotion without elaborate detail, reflecting the characteristic immediacy of his graphic practice.
Context
The lithograph belongs to a period when Daumier was actively documenting contemporary French society, often through scenes of ordinary people in public venues. By choosing a bathhouse setting, he aligns the work with his broader interest in the rituals and interactions of everyday life.
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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.
