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Artwork

Parisiens incrédules ...

Honoré Daumier , 1857

Parisiens incrédules ..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1857
Parisiens incrédules ..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1857

Parisiens incrédules ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Daumier shows two men on a balcony. One looks through a telescope while the other stares ahead. The sky is starry and the city glows below.

Daumier made this print in 1857 to poke fun at Parisians who refused to believe new scientific ideas. The telescope feels like a joke—these men can’t see the truth right in front of them.

Want a closer look? Visit the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Overview

This 1857 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, titled 'Parisiens incrédules,' depicts two men on a balcony, one using a telescope while the other gazes out into the distance.

Subject & Meaning

The scene, set against a starry night sky and a cityscape, is a commentary on the skepticism of Parisians towards new scientific ideas. The men's actions are rendered in a way that suggests they are missing the obvious truth.

Technique & Style

Daumier's lithograph showcases his skill in capturing urban life and the human condition through a simple yet evocative composition.

History & Provenance

Created in 1857, this print is an example of Daumier's work during a period of significant scientific and social change in Paris.

Context

The lithograph is a satirical commentary on the resistance to new ideas in mid-19th-century Paris.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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.

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of National Gallery of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.