Where can I see Précaution indispensable que prennent les Parisiens ...?

Précaution indispensable que prennent les Parisiens ... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Précaution indispensable que prennent les Parisiens ...?

Précaution indispensable que prennent les Parisiens ... is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Précaution indispensable que prennent les Parisiens ...

Précaution indispensable que prennent les Parisiens ... 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

Honoré Daumée r’s lithograph titled *Précaution indispensable que prennent les Parisiens …* presents a daytime street scene in which two stout, formally dressed men hold lanterns. The composition captures a moment of conversation, one figure appearing solemn while the other smiles, creating a subtle visual contrast within the same frame.

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as a satirical observation of Parisian society, targeting the pretensions of fashionable men who, despite bright daylight, cling to artificial accessories. By exaggerating the figures’ roundness and the absurdity of lanterns in the sun, Daumier critiques the superficiality of social rituals and the concealment of genuine character behind elaborate dress.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the image relies on bold line work and stark contrasts to emphasize the caricatured forms. Daumier’s use of exaggerated proportions and simplified shading underscores the humor while maintaining a clear representation of contemporary attire, reflecting his characteristic blend of realism and satire.

Context

Created during Daumier’s prolific period of social commentary, the print aligns with his broader oeuvre that lampooned everyday life in mid‑19th‑century Paris. The choice of a public, daylight setting and the inclusion of everyday objects such as lanterns situate the piece within the bustling urban environment that Daumier frequently examined.

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.