Artwork
Pardon...je suis courtier de commerce...
Pardon...je suis courtier de commerce... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Pardon.
About this work
Overview
Pardon...je suis courtier de commerce... is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, presenting a juxtaposed scene of two men in contrasting states: one standing in formal attire and another in a private, intimate setting.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a man in profile, holding a top hat, alongside another man lying in bed, partially covered. This contrast highlights the disparity between public persona and private life, underscoring Daumier's social commentary.
Technique & Style
Daumier employs exaggerated facial features and a stark juxtaposition of settings to emphasize his point. The lithograph technique allows for bold lines and expressive nuances, characteristic of Daumier's style.
Context
Created during a time when social roles and class distinctions were pronounced, the work reflects Daumier's tendency to critique societal norms through humorous yet poignant domestic and public contrasts.
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.
Visite matinale d'un créancier
9 heures du soir
Mon cher ami, nous avons appris ...
Voilà le moment (passé minuit) o∙ le calme et la paix règnent véritablement dans les heureux ménages. Vaut mieux tard que jamais.
L'ami d'un grand homme
7 heures du matin
Oui, chère amie, jaloux tant que tu voudras!...
Adieu! ... A la grâce de dieu ...