Artwork
Tiens ... qu'est-ce qu'c'est donc qu'ça? ...
Tiens ... qu'est-ce qu'c'est donc qu'ça? ... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled *Tiens … qu’est‑ce qu’c’est donc qu’elle ?* presents a compact gallery scene in which three figures are fixed on a partially visible sculpture. The composition isolates the act of looking, turning a mundane museum moment into a study of visual attention and reaction.
Subject & Meaning
The three onlookers display pronounced, almost caricatural expressions that suggest a mixture of curiosity, surprise and contemplation. By amplifying their facial features, Daumier invites viewers to consider how personal interpretation and social attitudes shape the experience of art, hinting at a subtle critique of contemporary taste.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print relies on bold, economical lines to delineate forms and convey emotion. Daumier’s characteristic use of exaggerated physiognomy, combined with the medium’s capacity for rapid reproduction, underscores his interest in capturing fleeting, observational moments with a satirical edge.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier’s prolific period of social commentary, the lithograph was produced in the mid‑19th century, a time when the artist frequently explored public spaces and cultural institutions. It has since entered several public collections, reflecting its relevance to studies of both printmaking and 19th‑century French visual culture.
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.
