Artwork
Nos saltimbanques
Nos saltimbanques is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Nos saltimbanques is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier depicting a scene of street performers in a comedic, exaggerated manner.
Subject & Meaning
The print focuses on a central figure supporting two inverted performers, highlighting the absurdity and theatricality of their poses, while subtly critiquing the societal context of street performance.
Technique & Style
Daumier employs bold, thick, scratchy lines to convey a sense of instability and humor, characteristic of his satirical approach, exaggerating physical forms for emotional and critical effect.
Context
Created amidst Daumier's prolific commentary on 19th-century French society, this work specifically targets the culture of street entertainers, blending satire with a nuanced, possibly sympathetic, portrayal.
Legacy
As part of Daumier's oeuvre, Nos saltimbanques contributes to his reputation for incisive social commentary through caricature, influencing subsequent artists in the use of printmaking for satirical purposes.
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.
