Artwork
Le premier jour de l'an
Le premier jour de l'an is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1845, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier captures a New Year’s Day ritual in Paris, where individuals exchange cheek kisses in a tightly packed group.
Created in 1845, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier captures a New Year’s Day ritual in Paris, where individuals exchange cheek kisses in a tightly packed group. Rendered in a single-tone print, the work reflects Daumier’s signature satirical approach, transforming a familiar social custom into a dynamic, slightly absurd tableau. The rough texture of the paper enhances the sense of movement and immediacy.
Subject & Meaning
The scene portrays a common Parisian tradition of greeting loved ones with kisses on the first day of the year. Daumier exaggerates facial expressions and bodily postures, revealing the awkwardness and emotional intensity beneath the ritual. While the gesture is culturally rooted, its depiction leans into irony, suggesting the performative nature of social etiquette among the urban middle class.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed rapid, incised lines to define figures and suggest motion, avoiding smooth contours in favor of energetic, sketch-like marks. The lithographic process allowed him to exploit the grain of the stone and paper, creating a tactile surface that mimics the clamor of the crowd. His use of shadow and silhouette groups individuals without individualizing them, reinforcing the collective nature of the ritual.
History & Provenance
Produced during Daumier’s prolific period of social commentary for periodicals, this print was likely distributed as a standalone image or in a serialized collection. It emerged from a time when lithography enabled artists to reach broad audiences, and Daumier’s work was widely circulated among Parisians familiar with the customs he depicted.
Context
In mid-19th century Paris, New Year’s greetings were a ritualized expression of social bonds, particularly among the bourgeoisie. Daumier, known for critiquing class behavior, used such scenes to highlight the tension between sincerity and performance in everyday life. His work often appeared alongside political satire, but here the focus is on domestic manners rather than public affairs.
Legacy
This print exemplifies Daumier’s influence on modern graphic art, demonstrating how lithography could convey both humor and psychological insight. His unidealized depictions of ordinary life paved the way for later realist and expressionist approaches to printmaking, emphasizing observation over idealization.
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.
