Artwork
Un animal rempli de modestie...
Un animal rempli de modestie... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Un animal rempli de modestie is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1856, portraying a scene of everyday life in a rustic kitchen.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a chef, dressed in uniform and beret, humbly holding a rope tied to a largely unseen animal, conveying a sense of ordinary domesticity and potentially subtle social commentary, characteristic of Daumier's work.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithograph, the piece showcases Daumier's signature approach, blending nuanced humor with observational realism, as evident in the subject's humble expression and the simple, suggestive setting.
History & Provenance
Created in 1856, specific provenance details are not provided, though the work is attributed to Honoré Daumier, a known critic of social conditions through his art.
Context
Reflecting mid-19th-century French daily life, the artwork offers a glimpse into the mundane aspects of the period, potentially commenting on the lives of the working class.
Legacy
As part of Daumier's oeuvre, 'Un animal rempli de modestie' contributes to the artist's legacy of using satire and realism to capture the essence of his time, influencing subsequent generations of artists in depicting everyday life and social critique.
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.
