Artwork
Robert ... tu ne soutiens plus la conversation ...
Robert ... tu ne soutiens plus la conversation ... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Daumier made this in 1847 using lithography, a printing method where grease and water repel each other on stone.
Two men sit at a table in a spare room. One tilts forward, mid-sentence, the other leans back with arms crossed. A bottle and two glasses stand between them.
Daumier made this in 1847 using lithography, a printing method where grease and water repel each other on stone. It lets him sketch fast and loose while keeping bold shadows.
See how the background blurs? That’s the trick. Look up lithography next.
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1847 lithograph captures a brief encounter between two men seated at a modest table. One figure leans forward, caught mid‑speech, while the other reclines with crossed arms, creating a contrast of posture that underscores the moment’s tension. A bottle and two glasses occupy the space between them, anchoring the scene in a domestic setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on the facial expressions and clothing of the two interlocutors, suggesting a personal exchange that may reflect everyday social dynamics of mid‑nineteenth‑century France. The sparse surroundings and the intimate positioning of the figures invite viewers to consider the nuances of conversation and the subtle power balance conveyed through body language.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, Daumier employed the medium’s capacity for swift, gestural drawing combined with strong tonal contrasts. The artist applied greasy ink to a stone surface, allowing water to repel the ink and produce crisp outlines alongside softer, blurred background areas. This approach yields a lively, almost spontaneous feel while preserving the depth of shadow.
History & Provenance
Created in 1847, the print belongs to Daumier’s prolific output of socially observant works during the July Monarchy. While specific ownership records are limited, the lithograph has circulated among collections that specialize in 19th‑century French prints, reflecting its continued relevance to scholars of the period.
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.
Soyez tranquille bourgeois, on connait
Le marchand de contremarques
Dis donc, ravignard, si nos femmes nous voyaient! ...
Ma patrie, a moi?...
Tiens au milieu de ...bouleversemens ...
Ne laissez donc pas votre ami dans cet état la!
Quelle heure est'il, s'il vous plait?...
La rèforme électorale en angleterre
Ex-membres de l'ex-société de l'ex-Dix-décembre