Artwork
Quand le crime ne donne pas

Quand le crime ne donne pas is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Quand le crime ne donne pas is a 1848 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a French artist known for his satirical prints that critiqued the social and political landscape of his time.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph depicts a somber, shadowy scene that suggests a serious event, possibly a crime, as hinted at by its title. Daumier's use of dark tones and simple composition tells a narrative that engages the viewer.
Technique & Style
Created using lithography, a technique that allows for mass production of printed images, the work showcases Daumier's skill in conveying complex themes through straightforward yet evocative visual storytelling.
Context
Produced during a period of significant political upheaval in France, the print reflects Daumier's ongoing commentary on the country's turbulent climate between the 1830 Revolution and the fall of the Second Empire in 1870.
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.

















