Artwork
Oui, Mossieu Fremouillet, tout va de mal en pis ...
Oui, Mossieu Fremouillet, tout va de mal en pis ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled *Oui, Mossieu Fremouillet, tout va de mal en pis …* presents a quiet interior scene with two male figures. One man sits upright, his posture rigid, while the other stands, leaning forward toward his companion. The composition captures a moment of intimate, perhaps tense, dialogue within a modestly furnished room.
Subject & Meaning
The seated figure’s solemn expression contrasts with the forward‑leaning posture of the standing man, suggesting a conversational exchange laden with unspoken tension. Daumier’s focus on subtle facial cues and body language invites viewers to infer the underlying social commentary, typical of his interest in everyday human interactions.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work relies on the medium’s capacity for fine, sharp lines. Daumier manipulates the grease‑and‑water process to render crisp outlines and nuanced shading, allowing rapid production of multiple copies while preserving the immediacy of the scene’s emotional tone.
Context
Created during Daumier’s prolific period of printmaking, this lithograph aligns with his broader engagement with contemporary French society. It shares thematic concerns with other works such as *The Print Collector*, where the artist similarly explores the dynamics of social exchange and the subtleties of human behavior.
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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.
