Artwork
Pas étonnant que ce soit long ...
Pas étonnant que ce soit long ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1872 lithograph, titled “Pas étonnant que ce soit long…,” presents a stark composition centered on an open book. The pages are filled with dense, scribbled black marks, while a hand, holding a quill, hovers above the text, suggesting the moment of writing.
Subject & Meaning
The juxtaposition of the heavily annotated pages and the poised quill underscores the act of composition, hinting at the labor and persistence involved in creating written work. The title, translating to “It’s not surprising that it’s long…,” reinforces a self‑referential commentary on the length and effort of the written page.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, Daumier employs bold, decisive lines that strip the scene to its essentials. The stark contrast between the black ink of the scribbles and the white of the paper heightens the visual impact, while the simplified forms convey movement and intention without elaborate detail.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1870s, the print belongs to Daumier’s later period, when he increasingly explored printmaking as a medium for social and personal observation. It has circulated among private collections and museum holdings, reflecting the artist’s enduring interest in everyday subjects rendered through graphic means.
Context
Daumier, renowned for his satirical caricatures and genre scenes, often turned to the printed page to comment on contemporary life. This work aligns with his broader practice of using minimalistic graphic language to capture moments of ordinary labor, here focusing on the writer’s craft.
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.
