Artwork
Les petits présens ...
Les petits présens ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Les petits présens is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1840, capturing a poignant interaction between two figures.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a woman leaning toward a standing man, conveying a sense of intimate, possibly tense, communication. Their serious expressions and attire are meticulously rendered, reflecting Daumier's focus on social dynamics and human character.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, a relatively novel medium at the time, the piece features characteristic scratchy lines, lending a sense of realism to the subjects' clothing and facial expressions. The style suggests Daumier's observation of everyday people.
History & Provenance
Created in 1840, during a period when lithography enabled rapid production of bold images. Daumier utilized this medium to often critique social class differences in 19th-century France.
Context
Part of Daumier's broader oeuvre of socially aware sketches, this work aligns with his practice of using art to comment on the societal norms of his time.
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.
Tendresse conjugale
Il admire les beautés de la nature - Plaine St. Denis
Encore mes créanciers, toujours ...
Je me dis en moi-même
A portée de lorgnon
Un citoyen exaspéré par les buffleteries
Pochades de carnaval: C'est singulier! elle me dit que je suis Philibert Désormeaux, et que je passe pour un imbecile!! ....où diable à-t-elle sù cela?
Affiches Illustrées
Vous viendrez diner, ma femme soupe en ville ...