Artwork
Oui c'est bien feue ma femme! ...
Oui c'est bien feue ma femme! ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled “Oui c’est bien feue ma femme!” presents a quiet domestic scene rendered in monochrome. The print captures a modest interior where two figures share the space, one seated and absorbed in the view of a painting propped on an easel. The composition is confined yet intimate, inviting the viewer into a moment of quiet contemplation.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on a solitary figure, seated and gazing at a framed canvas, suggesting a meditation on the act of looking. The presence of a second, less defined person adds a subtle narrative tension, hinting at interpersonal dynamics or the shared experience of art appreciation. The title, a colloquial French phrase, reinforces a tone of informal domesticity.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, Daumier employs fine hatching to build tonal variation, allowing shadows and highlights to emerge from simple line work. This method creates depth without color, emphasizing the emotional weight of the scene. The expressive, slightly exaggerated lines are characteristic of Daumier’s graphic approach, balancing realism with caricature.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑19th century, the print belongs to Daumier’s prolific output of social and domestic subjects. Lithography, a popular medium for his satirical and observational works, enabled wider distribution. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece has appeared in several catalogues of Daumier’s prints, confirming its authenticity and place within his oeuvre.
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.
