Artwork
Un jour de garde
Un jour de garde is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The composition is confined to the vertical space of the steps, emphasizing the close proximity of the figures as they converse.
Honoré Daumier’s lithograph *Un jour de garde* presents a compact scene on a stairwell where two soldiers in uniform stand opposite one another, each gripping a rifle. The composition is confined to the vertical space of the steps, emphasizing the close proximity of the figures as they converse. The work is executed in black-and-white lithographic ink, typical of Daumier’s prolific print output in the mid‑19th century.
Subject & Meaning
The two armed men are shown in the act of dialogue rather than formal duty, suggesting a moment of personal exchange amid military routine. By focusing on their interaction, Daumier hints at the humanity behind the uniform, inviting viewers to consider the social roles and everyday lives of those tasked with public order.
Technique & Style
Daumier employs dense cross‑hatching and varied shading to model the figures and the stair’s planes, creating a sense of depth within the flat medium. The stark contrast between illuminated areas and deep shadows accentuates the textures of fabric and metal, while the fluid line work conveys movement and the immediacy of the spoken exchange.
History & Provenance
Produced as a lithographic print, the work belongs to Daumier’s extensive series of socially observant images created during his career as a caricaturist and painter. While the exact date of issuance is not recorded, the piece reflects the artist’s mid‑century interest in military subjects and was likely circulated among his contemporaries as part of his print publications.
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.
