Artwork

Nous ne nous serions jamais douté tout de même...

Nous ne nous serions jamais douté tout de même..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1870
Nous ne nous serions jamais douté tout de même..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1870

Nous ne nous serions jamais douté tout de même... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Nous ne nous serions jamais douté tout de même.

About this work

Overview

Nous ne nous serions jamais douté tout de même... is a 1870 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, characteristic of his satirical approach to French social and political commentary.

Subject & Meaning

The lithograph depicts two similarly dressed men in intense conversation before a decorated wall. Their obscured facial expressions and tense body language imply a serious, possibly clandestine discussion, reflecting Daumier's critique of French societal hierarchies.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithograph, the work features Daumier's hallmark use of dark tones and bold lines, generating a dramatic and tense atmosphere. The composition aligns with Realist tendencies, emphasizing everyday scenes with underlying social commentary.

History & Provenance

Created during a period of French turmoil, this lithograph is part of Daumier's prolific output for publications like *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, spanning from the 1830 Revolution to the fall of the Second Empire.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.