Artwork
Mimi Vèron croit avoir ... trouvé le ...
Mimi Vèron croit avoir ... trouvé le ... 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
Honoré Daumée r’s lithograph presents a domestic scene in which a woman, positioned in a cluttered kitchen, swings a hammer at a pot marked “LE CHARIVARI.” The composition captures a moment of intense activity, the figure’s posture and the surrounding disorder emphasizing a sudden, forceful gesture within an ordinary interior.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a frustrated figure exerting physical effort, suggesting an outburst of anger or desperation. The labeled pot may allude to a specific household item or a satirical reference, while the chaotic surroundings amplify the sense of a domestic crisis, turning a mundane setting into a commentary on everyday tension.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, Daumier employs brisk, scratchy lines that convey motion and immediacy. The stark contrasts and loose rendering of details create a sense of spontaneity, as if the scene were captured in a rapid sketch, reinforcing the emotional intensity of the figure’s action.
History & Provenance
The print was originally produced for a satirical Parisian newspaper, aligning with Daumier’s reputation for social commentary. Its purpose as a newspaper illustration situates the image within the 19th‑century press culture, where such vivid, quickly produced images served both informational and critical functions.
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.
