Artwork
Tire ferme, Gaspard ... y va s'neyer ...
Tire ferme, Gaspard ... y va s'neyer ... 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. Honoré Daumée’s lithograph presents a river scene in which two figures occupy a small boat.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumée’s lithograph presents a river scene in which two figures occupy a small boat. One man stands upright, gripping a pole, while his companion leans forward toward a swimmer in the water. The composition is framed by a brief, humorous French caption that underscores the work’s satirical tone.
Subject & Meaning
The image juxtaposes the leisurely activity of boating with a moment of playful interaction with a swimmer, suggesting a light‑hearted commentary on social behavior. The dialogue, rendered in French, adds a layer of irony typical of Daumée’s caricatural approach, inviting viewers to interpret the scene as a gentle mock‑up of contemporary leisure.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print showcases Daumée’s skill in manipulating line and tone to convey movement and expression. The crisp outlines and subtle shading are characteristic of mid‑19th‑century French caricature, where the medium allowed rapid production of socially observant images.
Context
Created during a period when Daumée regularly contributed to satirical journals, the work reflects the broader tradition of French visual satire that critiqued everyday life. Its French title and dialogue anchor it firmly in the cultural milieu of Parisian popular press of the era.
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.
