Who painted Le Czar a Sébastopol?

Le Czar a Sébastopol was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1855.

Where can I see Le Czar a Sébastopol?

Le Czar a Sébastopol is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Czar a Sébastopol?

Le Czar a Sébastopol is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Le Czar a Sébastopol

Honoré Daumier , 1855

Le Czar a Sébastopol is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Le Czar à Sébastopol is a 1855 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a French artist known for his satirical prints. The work is a commentary on a contemporary political event, using caricature to critique a figure of authority.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two figures on a seaside wall, one perched on a block holding an empty flagpole, likely mocking the absence of a French tricolor flag. The scene is set against a backdrop of a distant city and ships, with the title suggesting a satirical take on a Russian leader's visit to Sébastopol.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed lithography, a medium well-suited for mass-produced commentary, to create the print. The work features exaggerated figures and a focus on caricature, characteristic of Daumier's style and his contributions to publications such as La Caricature and Le Charivari.

Context

The lithograph is a product of Daumier's long-standing practice of political satire in mid-19th-century France, where he frequently targeted figures of authority, including monarchs and military leaders.

Artist & collection

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.