Artwork
Nouveau système de pendule ...
Nouveau système de pendule ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled *Nouveau système de pendule* presents a bustling scene populated by a group of men shown from the torso upward.
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled *Nouveau système de pendule* presents a bustling scene populated by a group of men shown from the torso upward. The composition is crowded with numerous clock faces that dominate the background, creating a visual emphasis on the theme of time. The work captures a moment of informal interaction among the figures, rendered in the characteristic boldness of Daumier’s printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the image stands a man distinguished by a pronounced nose and a tall black top hat. He is engaged in conversation with surrounding onlookers, suggesting a social exchange centered around the newly popular time‑keeping device. The prevalence of clocks and the animated dialogue hint at 19th‑century fascination with punctuality and the impact of technological advances on everyday life.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print employs the medium’s capacity for fine line work and tonal variation to convey texture and depth. Daumier’s handling of the stone surface yields crisp outlines for the figures and a densely patterned backdrop of clock faces. The stark contrast between the dark silhouettes and the lighter background underscores the bustling atmosphere while retaining the satirical edge typical of his graphic oeuvre.
Context
Created during a period when industrialization was reshaping French society, the lithograph reflects contemporary preoccupations with time regulation and public life. Daumier, known for his commentary on social customs, uses the scene to document how new chronometric devices entered public consciousness, influencing both personal behavior and collective interactions in urban settings.
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.
