Artwork
Le Malade imaginaire
Le Malade imaginaire is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1841, this lithograph on newsprint presents a solitary figure dressed in a top hat and dark coat, arms folded across his chest.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1841, this lithograph on newsprint presents a solitary figure dressed in a top hat and dark coat, arms folded across his chest. The man’s furrowed brow and tense posture convey a mood of anxiety or contemplation, set against a lightly tinted background that recedes into subtle shadows.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure appears to be a gentleman caught in a moment of inner worry, his crossed arms and concerned expression suggesting personal or societal unease. While the image does not depict a specific narrative, its emphasis on a solitary, troubled individual aligns with Daumier’s broader interest in portraying the psychological states of everyday people.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work utilizes the fluid lines and tonal variations characteristic of the medium, printed on inexpensive newsprint to maximize accessibility. Daumier’s handling of contrast—lighter planes for the background and darker shading around the figure—creates depth while maintaining the immediacy of a quick, observational drawing.
History & Provenance
The print emerges from Daumier’s early period, when he was establishing himself as a caricaturist for satirical journals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari. Produced during a time of political turbulence in France, the work reflects his practice of using affordable print media to disseminate commentary to a wide readership.
Context
The 1840s in France were marked by mounting tensions between republican ideals and monarchical authority. Daumier’s output during this era frequently addressed these conflicts, employing ordinary scenes and figures to subtly critique the social order. This lithograph, though not overtly political, fits within that milieu of visual commentary aimed at a broad public.
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.
