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Artwork

Les bourgeois ...

Honoré Daumier , 1858

Les bourgeois ..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1858
Les bourgeois ..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1858

Les bourgeois ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Honoré Daumée’s lithograph titled *Les bourgeois* depicts a quiet exchange between two men inside a butcher’s shop.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumée’s lithograph titled *Les bourgeois* depicts a quiet exchange between two men inside a butcher’s shop. The composition is framed by the shop’s fixtures and hanging cuts of meat, creating a confined yet detailed interior scene.

Subject & Meaning

One figure clutches a slab of meat suspended from the ceiling, while the other engages in conversation, suggesting a blend of everyday commerce and social interaction. The calm dialogue set against the raw, visceral surroundings underscores the ordinary yet intimate nature of market life.

Technique & Style

Daumier employs stark contrasts of light and shadow to model the space, using chiaroscuro to give depth to the cramped shop. The lithographic lines render the texture of the meat and the figures’ clothing, while the tonal gradations emphasize the interplay between the illuminated foreground and the darker background.

Context

Created as part of Daumier’s series of social observations, the print reflects mid‑19th‑century French interest in depicting the working class and urban settings. The focus on a mundane commercial scene aligns with his broader interest in the daily realities of bourgeois life.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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.

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of National Gallery of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.