Artwork
Le régisseur
Le régisseur is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1856 lithograph Le Régisseur presents a brief theatrical tableau in which a costumed monarch and a plainly dressed figure engage in conversation. Rendered in a single‑color palette, the image captures a moment of staged interaction, emphasizing the contrast between the elaborate regal attire and the ordinary contemporary dress.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes the pomp of a king’s costume—complete with a towering hat and richly draped robe—against the modest clothing of his interlocutor, suggesting a commentary on the performative aspects of social status. By placing the two figures in a theater setting, Daumier highlights how identity can be assumed and displayed like a role on stage.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the piece relies on the medium’s capacity for fluid, sketch‑like lines and tonal variation. Daumier’s handling of the stone surface yields a loose, energetic drawing quality, while the monochrome scheme accentuates the contrast between light and shadow, reinforcing the theatrical atmosphere without the distraction of color.
History & Provenance
Created in 1856, Le Régisseur belongs to Daumier’s prolific period of social satire and theatrical subjects. The lithograph was produced in limited runs typical of the era, and copies have entered public and private collections, reflecting the artist’s ongoing interest in the interplay between performance and everyday life.
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.
