Who painted Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini...?

Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1844.

Where can I see Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini...?

Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini...?

Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini... is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini...

Honoré Daumier , 1844

Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier's 1844 lithograph *Saperlotte!... que je voudrais... que ma femme ait fini...* is a satirical print created during a period of political turmoil in France. Characteristic of Daumier's work, it combines sharp social commentary with visual humor.

Subject & Meaning

The lithograph depicts a moment of surprise or frustration between a couple outdoors near a rocky shore. A man, dressed in a top hat and long coat, leans forward examining something in his hand, while a woman beside him, in a long dress, holds an object and glances at him. The specific subject of their interaction is left ambiguous, inviting interpretation of the satirical target.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed quick, sketchy lines in this lithograph to convey movement and emotion, reflecting his mastery of printmaking's expressive potential. The faint background of sky and water contrasts with the more defined figures, focusing attention on the couple's dynamic.

History & Provenance

Produced in 1844 for a publication like *La Caricature* or *Le Charivari*, this work aligns with Daumier's republican democratic views, critiquing social hierarchies amidst France's political upheaval.

Context

This lithograph is part of Daumier's broader output as a prolific caricaturist, using accessible printmaking to reach a wide audience with commentary on the monarchy, aristocracy, clergy, and everyday life.

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.