Who painted Le garde national Rifolard ...?

Le garde national Rifolard ... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1848.

Where can I see Le garde national Rifolard ...?

Le garde national Rifolard ... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le garde national Rifolard ...?

Le garde national Rifolard ... is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Le garde national Rifolard ...

Honoré Daumier , 1848

Le garde national Rifolard ... 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

A soldier in a fancy uniform kisses a woman in a lithograph from 1848.

A soldier in a fancy uniform kisses a woman in a lithograph from 1848. Daumier made hundreds of these prints. He mocked politicians and soldiers alike.

His lines are bold and fast. The soldier’s big nose and grin make you smile. The woman looks calm. A small child watches in the background.

This style is called lithography. Daumier used greasy crayons on stone to print these images.

Look up Daumier, Honoré.

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1848 lithograph “Le garde national Rifolard” captures a brief, intimate scene: a soldier in an ornate uniform leans forward to kiss a woman, while a small child watches nearby. The image combines a moment of personal affection with the broader context of military duty, rendered in Daumier’s characteristic satirical tone.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a national guard, is presented with exaggerated facial features—a large nose and a wide grin—that underscore Daumier’s penchant for caricature. The presence of the calm woman and the observing child introduces themes of family, domesticity, and the juxtaposition of private tenderness against public responsibility.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, Daumier employed greasy crayons on a stone surface, producing bold, swift lines that convey immediacy and humor. The stark contrasts and simplified forms accentuate the exaggerated expressions, while the composition’s clarity reflects the artist’s skill in merging social satire with a lively visual language.

History & Provenance

Created amid the revolutionary fervor of 1848, the print is part of Daumier’s extensive series of lithographs that lampooned both political figures and military personnel. Produced in large numbers, the work circulated widely, contributing to Daumier’s reputation as a leading commentator on contemporary French society.

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.