Who painted Quand on fait ses foins...?

Quand on fait ses foins... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1846.

Where can I see Quand on fait ses foins...?

Quand on fait ses foins... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Quand on fait ses foins...?

Quand on fait ses foins... is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Quand on fait ses foins...

Honoré Daumier , 1846

Quand on fait ses foins... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1846, *Quand on fait ses foins.

About this work

Overview

It exemplifies Daumier’s engagement with contemporary political and social issues through humor and visual exaggeration.

Created in 1846, *Quand on fait ses foins...* is a lithographic print on newsprint by Honoré Daumier. The work belongs to the artist’s extensive output of caricatures for French periodicals, employing the relatively inexpensive lithographic process to circulate satirical images widely. It exemplifies Daumier’s engagement with contemporary political and social issues through humor and visual exaggeration.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts two agricultural laborers in a field; one reclines on a haystack with an open mouth and hands in his pockets, while the other bends over, scythe in hand, gazing downward. The exaggerated posture of the seated figure, coupled with a French caption, mocks idleness among workers, reflecting Daumier’s republican critique of class attitudes and labor ethics.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed the lithographic method, drawing directly onto a stone or metal plate with greasy ink before transferring the image onto newsprint. The lines are loose and sketch‑like, conveying immediacy and vigor. This rapid, gestural approach enhances the comedic effect and underscores the print’s function as a timely commentary for a mass readership.

History & Provenance

Produced during a period of political turbulence in France, the print was intended for circulation in popular newspapers, reaching a broad audience beyond elite art circles. While specific publication details are scarce, the work remains part of Daumier’s prolific series of socially charged lithographs that documented and critiqued mid‑nineteenth‑century French society.

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.