Artwork
Mr Prudhomme...ce n'est pas moi qui me ferai ...
Mr Prudhomme...ce n'est pas moi qui me ferai ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumée r’s lithograph titled *Mr Prudhomme* presents a stout gentleman, dressed in a high‑brimmed hat and spectacles, clutching a diminutive dog with drooping ears. The composition is set within a plain interior, allowing the figures to dominate the space and convey a light‑hearted moment.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure’s self‑satisfied posture, juxtaposed with the dog’s comical ear position, creates a humorous tableau that hints at a gentle satire of bourgeois pride and the affection people show toward their pets. Daumée r’s keen eye captures the subtle interplay of confidence and absurdity.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on fine line work and careful shading to render textures—from the fabric of the hat to the dog’s soft ears. Daumée r’s control of the medium allows precise detail while maintaining the spontaneity characteristic of his observational prints.
Context
Created during Daumée r’s prolific period of social commentary, the image reflects his interest in everyday scenes and the quirks of contemporary life. The straightforward setting and focus on a single domestic encounter are typical of his approach to depicting ordinary moments with a touch of wit.
Own this work as a print
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.
