Artwork
Les nouveaux Icares
Les nouveaux Icares is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
"Les nouveaux Icares" is a lithographic print by Honoré Daumier that portrays a tumultuous descent of several rotund, costumed figures. The composition is filled with swirling feathers and bathed in bright daylight, creating a vivid, almost theatrical scene that captures the viewer’s attention immediately.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a group of plump men in formal attire tumbling from the heavens, a visual metaphor for overreaching ambition and sudden collapse. By juxtaposing the seriousness of their clothing with the absurdity of their fall, Daumier underscores the foolishness of those who pursue lofty goals without humility, hinting at an inevitable downfall.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print demonstrates Daumier’s skillful line work and careful shading, which give depth to the figures and the surrounding feathers. The stark contrast between the bright sunlight and the dark silhouettes accentuates the comedic yet critical tone, while the precise framing guides the eye through the chaotic motion.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier’s prolific period of social satire, the lithograph entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s commitment to representing 19th‑century French printmaking and Daumier’s role in political caricature.
Context
Daumier frequently targeted the powerful and pretentious in his oeuvre, using exaggerated physiognomy to expose human vanity. "Les nouveaux Icares" continues this tradition, aligning with his broader body of work that critiques societal hierarchies through humor and visual exaggeration, a hallmark of mid‑1800s French visual commentary.
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.
