Who painted Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ...?

Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1848.

Where can I see Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ...?

Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ...?

Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ... is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ...

Honoré Daumier , 1848

Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1848 lithograph, titled Oh! M’sieu l’avocat, presents a compact tableau of three figures in a domestic interior. A solemn man in a dark robe occupies the centre, while two women in fashionable attire stand on either side, engaged in conversation. The composition captures a moment of everyday social exchange, offering a glimpse into the manners of mid‑nineteenth‑century France.

Subject & Meaning

In contrast, the two women, dressed in elegant, contemporary clothing, appear relaxed and animated, suggesting a lighter, perhaps private, discourse.

The central figure, identified as an attorney by his formal dress, conveys a sense of professional gravity. In contrast, the two women, dressed in elegant, contemporary clothing, appear relaxed and animated, suggesting a lighter, perhaps private, discourse. The juxtaposition underscores the contrast between public authority and private leisure, reflecting Daumée’s interest in the nuances of social hierarchy and interaction.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work relies on the artist’s drawing on a limestone surface, later transferred to paper through a chemical process that preserves fine line work and tonal variation. Daumée’s handling of the medium yields crisp outlines for the figures and subtle shading that delineates fabric textures, while the overall flatness of the plane aligns with his satirical, observational style.

History & Provenance

Created during a period of political upheaval in France, the lithograph was likely produced for the burgeoning market of affordable prints that circulated among the urban middle class. Though specific ownership records are sparse, the image has appeared in several 19th‑century print collections and is now held by institutions that specialize in French graphic art.

Artist & collection

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.