Artwork
Mon cher que voulez-vous...
Mon cher que voulez-vous... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Mon cher que voulez-vous.
About this work
Overview
Mon cher que voulez-vous... is a 1845 lithograph by French artist Honoré Daumier, characterized by its satirical tone and critique of French society.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a tense conversation between three men: a civilian in formal attire and two individuals in military-style uniforms. Exaggerated expressions and body language convey emotional intensity, suggesting a confrontation or disagreement, likely alluding to the political and social upheavals of the time.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed lithography to create the work, a technique well-suited to mass production and dissemination of his satirical commentary. The composition's focus on the subjects' faces and gestures, set against a plain background, emphasizes the drama of the interaction.
History & Provenance
Created during a period of significant social and political change in France, this lithograph reflects Daumier's republican democratic views, which frequently targeted the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy through his work in publications like La Caricature and Le Charivari.
Context
This work is part of Daumier's broader oeuvre of satirical prints that critiqued French society from the 1830 Revolution to the Second Empire, leveraging his platform in popular newspapers to reach a wide audience.
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.
