Who painted Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834?

Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834 was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1834.

Where can I see Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834?

Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834 is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834?

Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834 is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834

Honoré Daumier , 1834

Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834 is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1834 lithograph titled *Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834* records a grim domestic scene in a modest Parisian flat. Rendered on wove paper, the print captures the immediate aftermath of a violent clash, focusing on a fallen figure whose lifeless posture dominates the composition.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure lies on the floor, shirt and trousers white, head thrown back, mouth open in a silent scream. His limbs are splayed, one arm bent, the other outstretched, while a dimly lit room with a bed, chair, and a narrow window frames the tragedy. The image conveys loss and the human cost of political repression.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed the lithographic process, drawing directly onto a stone surface before transferring the image onto wove paper. His handling of line and shading creates stark contrasts, emphasizing the figure’s pallor against the shadowed interior. The composition’s tight framing and limited palette heighten the somber mood typical of his socially engaged prints.

History & Provenance

Created in the wake of a government crackdown on republican demonstrations, the print was circulated among radical circles rather than mainstream venues. Though Daumier is better known for his caricatures in *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, this work reflects his direct engagement with contemporary political events.

Context

The incident depicted occurred on 15 April 1834, when troops entered a working‑class apartment on Rue Transnonain, killing several occupants. Daumier’s republican sympathies and his criticism of state authority informed the work, positioning it as a visual protest against the suppression of democratic movements in early‑19th‑century France.

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.