Who painted Passe ton chemin, cochon?

Passe ton chemin, cochon was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1830.

Where can I see Passe ton chemin, cochon?

Passe ton chemin, cochon is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Passe ton chemin, cochon?

Passe ton chemin, cochon is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Passe ton chemin, cochon

Honoré Daumier , 1830

Passe ton chemin, cochon is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1830, this lithograph by Honoré Daumée Daumier captures a moment of battlefield chaos.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1830, this lithograph by Honoré Daumée Daumier captures a moment of battlefield chaos. A soldier stands dominant, foot planted, rifle in hand, while a fallen comrade lies beneath him. In the hazy background, additional troops advance through smoke, their features indistinct, emphasizing the turmoil of the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The image juxtaposes the vigor of the surviving fighter with the vulnerability of the wounded, suggesting the harsh realities of war and the fleeting nature of life on the front. Daumier’s choice of a solitary, grim tableau invites reflection on the human cost of conflict and the indifference of the advancing masses.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on the medium’s capacity for fine tonal variation. Daumier employs a restrained palette of grays and browns, using delicate hatching and wash-like shading to convey smoke, texture, and depth. The composition’s dramatic chiaroscuro aligns it with Romantic sensibilities, emphasizing emotion over precise detail.

History & Provenance

Printed for the satirical press, the lithograph appeared during a period when Daumier contributed regularly to publications such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. These outlets disseminated his politically charged images, and this piece circulated among readers attuned to the republican debates of post‑revolutionary France.

Context

The early 1830s were marked by intense political upheaval in France, with republican ideas challenging monarchical and clerical authority. Daumier’s work reflects his democratic convictions, using the battlefield motif as a metaphor for the broader struggle between emerging popular forces and established power structures.

Artist & collection

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.