Who painted Un Jour de représentation a bénéfice...?

Un Jour de représentation a bénéfice... was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1852.

Where can I see Un Jour de représentation a bénéfice...?

Un Jour de représentation a bénéfice... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Un Jour de représentation a bénéfice...?

Un Jour de représentation a bénéfice... is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Un Jour de représentation a bénéfice...

Honoré Daumier , 1852

Un Jour de représentation a bénéfice... is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1852, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier forms part of his extensive series of satirical prints. Executed as a single‑color stone‑cut image, it portrays two formally dressed gentlemen standing before a doorway, their postures suggesting a moment of quiet reflection.

Subject & Meaning

The two figures—one holding a cane, the other clasping his hands—are rendered in dignified attire, yet their stillness invites a subtle critique of the social elite. Daumier’s republican sympathies often surfaced through such scenes, using ordinary moments to question the pretensions of the aristocracy and clergy.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed the lithographic process, drawing directly onto a limestone plate with greasy ink before printing. The work’s limited line work and restrained tonal range emphasize silhouette and gesture, hallmarks of his caricatural yet observational style.

History & Provenance

Produced for the mid‑nineteenth‑century French press, the print circulated among readers of satirical journals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. It remained in private collections before entering museum holdings, reflecting Daumier’s reputation as a leading commentator on French public life.

Context

The image emerges from a period of political turbulence spanning the July Revolution of 1830 to the eventual collapse of the Second Empire. Within this climate, Daumier’s work functioned as visual journalism, offering democratic commentary on the institutions and figures shaping French society.

Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

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.