Artwork
Se demandant si, le duel fini, ils ne vont pas etre plumes
Se demandant si, le duel fini, ils ne vont pas etre plumes is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1866 lithograph, executed on newsprint, presents a satirical scene that critiques the ritual of dueling in mid‑nineteenth‑century France. The image captures two weary men—dressed in loose, sailor‑like attire—shaking hands on a beach while a sword and a cane hint at their recent conflict. In the distance, sinking ships and bustling figures add a chaotic backdrop to the moment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes the formal handshake that follows a duel with the looming threat of punishment, hinted at by the caption’s reference to being “feathered.” By portraying the duelists as exhausted and the sea littered with wrecked vessels, Daumier underscores the futility and social cost of such aristocratic customs, using humor to question their relevance.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, the work relies on bold, sketch‑like lines and dense shading that convey immediacy and a sense of urgency. The choice of newsprint as a substrate reinforces the piece’s connection to the period’s popular press, where Daumier’s caricatures regularly appeared. The rough handling of form and the stark contrast between figures and background amplify the satirical tone.
History & Provenance
The lithograph reflects his ongoing engagement with republican ideals and his habit of using inexpensive, widely circulated media to reach a broad audience.
Daumier produced the print during a prolific period when he contributed regularly to satirical journals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. The lithograph reflects his ongoing engagement with republican ideals and his habit of using inexpensive, widely circulated media to reach a broad audience. Its survival on newsprint attests to the durability of his graphic approach despite the fragile material.
Context
In the 1860s, dueling remained a contentious practice among France’s military and aristocratic circles, often resulting in legal repercussions. Daumier’s work engages directly with contemporary debates about honor, violence, and the law, positioning the print within broader social discussions about the decline of aristocratic privilege and the rise of republican sentiment.
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.
