Who painted Madame Chapotard se disposant a faire ses confitures?

Madame Chapotard se disposant a faire ses confitures was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1852.

Where can I see Madame Chapotard se disposant a faire ses confitures?

Madame Chapotard se disposant a faire ses confitures is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Madame Chapotard se disposant a faire ses confitures?

Madame Chapotard se disposant a faire ses confitures is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Madame Chapotard se disposant a faire ses confitures

Honoré Daumier , 1852

Madame Chapotard se disposant a faire ses confitures is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1852 lithograph, titled *Madame Chapotard se disposant à faire ses confitures*, presents a brief, informal glimpse of a domestic moment in mid‑nineteenth‑century France. Rendered in a sketch‑like manner, the image captures a woman poised to prepare jam while a male figure nearby offers an encouraging gesture.

Subject & Meaning

The composition features a woman in a dark, long dress and headscarf, holding a wooden spoon as if about to stir a pot of jam. Opposite her stands a man in a short cloak and hat, his sword at his side, giving a thumbs‑up. The juxtaposition of everyday kitchen work with a lighthearted, supportive gesture hints at a modest, perhaps humorous, commentary on household life.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the work displays Daumier’s characteristic loose, sketchy line work, emphasizing spontaneity over polished finish. The use of stark contrasts and minimal shading underscores the immediacy of the scene, a common trait in Daumier’s prints that sought to capture fleeting moments.

History & Provenance

Created during a prolific period when Daumier was producing numerous prints that reflected social and political currents, this lithograph was part of his broader output that documented ordinary French life. Its original publication details are sparse, but it aligns with his series of genre scenes from the early 1850s.

Context

The image emerges from a time of heightened social tension in France, when artists like Daumier employed everyday subjects to subtly critique or simply observe contemporary society. While the scene appears domestic, the presence of a sword‑bearing figure adds a subtle nod to the era’s underlying militaristic and political backdrop.

Artist & collection

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.