Who painted Madeleine-Bastille?

Madeleine-Bastille was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1862.

Where can I see Madeleine-Bastille?

Madeleine-Bastille is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Madeleine-Bastille?

Madeleine-Bastille is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Madeleine-Bastille?

Museum-quality prints of Madeleine-Bastille are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Madeleine-Bastille

Honoré Daumier , 1862

Madeleine-Bastille is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The work exemplifies Daumier’s focus on contemporary public life and his skill in rendering swift, observational scenes.

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph *Madeleine‑Bastille*, executed in 1862, presents a bustling interior of a Parisian omnibus. The composition captures a moment of ordinary urban travel, with passengers of varied social standing jostling for space as the carriage doors open onto the street. The work exemplifies Daumier’s focus on contemporary public life and his skill in rendering swift, observational scenes.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a crowded streetcar: a woman in an elaborate dress reaches upward to steady herself while boarding, two other women sit with luggage, and a gentleman in a top hat holds the door ajar. The title references the Madeleine‑Bastille line, a well‑known route in mid‑century Paris, underscoring the work’s interest in everyday mobility and the mingling of classes within public transport.

Technique & Style

Created through lithography, the print relies on rapid, sketch‑like lines that convey movement and immediacy. Daumier’s use of bold contours and minimal shading gives the scene a documentary quality, while the loose handling of detail suggests a spontaneous observation rather than a polished studio composition. The medium allows for multiple impressions, aligning with the artist’s practice of disseminating socially relevant imagery.

Context

Daumier, primarily known for his caricatures in publications such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, employed his prints to comment on the political turbulence of 19th‑century France. By the 1860s, his work reflected republican sympathies and a critical stance toward the Second Empire, using ordinary subjects like omnibus passengers to subtly critique social hierarchies and the modernization of urban life.

History & Provenance

The lithograph was produced in Paris during Daumier’s mature period and circulated among the artist’s network of print collectors. Original impressions remain in several European museum collections, where they are catalogued as part of Daumier’s extensive series of urban genre scenes that document the daily rhythms of the capital.

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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.