Artwork
Pour qui sont ces Serpents...
Pour qui sont ces Serpents... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Pour qui sont ces Serpents.
About this work
Overview
Pour qui sont ces Serpents... is a 1841 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a prominent figure in French satire during the mid-19th century.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a worried man in a simple tunic, his hands raised defensively, conveying alarm or concern in response to an unseen threat. The image's tense mood is heightened by the artist's use of bold lines and expressive shading.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed lithography to create this work, utilizing bold lines and shading to dramatic effect. The muted, earthy background tone contrasts with the figure's expressive rendering.
Context
This lithograph is part of Daumier's satirical output during the July Monarchy and Second Republic, critiquing social and political hierarchies through caricature. He contributed to publications like La Caricature and Le Charivari, blending observation and visual wit.
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.
