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Artwork

Parisiens prenant... leurs précautions...

Honoré Daumier , 1857

Parisiens prenant... leurs précautions..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1857
Parisiens prenant... leurs précautions..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1857

Parisiens prenant... leurs précautions... 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

Overview

Created in 1857, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier portrays a crowd navigating a water‑logged Parisian street. Figures in period dress—top‑hatted men and women in long skirts and headscarves—move past a bridge and surrounding buildings, rendered in muted greys and browns that emphasize the soggy atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a moment of urban inconvenience, likely alluding to the frequent flooding of Paris in the mid‑nineteenth century. By depicting ordinary citizens coping with the deluge, Daumier injects a subtle critique of municipal management and the broader social conditions under the Second Empire, consistent with his satirical outlook.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work benefits from the medium’s capacity for fine line work and tonal variation. Daumier’s handling of the stone plate yields loose, expressive strokes that convey motion and texture, while the limited palette reinforces the scene’s somber mood and draws attention to the figures’ collective effort.

History & Provenance

Daumier, renowned for his contributions to satirical journals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, produced this print during a prolific period of political commentary. The lithograph circulated among the period’s print market, reflecting the artist’s commitment to republican ideals and his engagement with contemporary urban issues.

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.