Who painted Un mari trop aimé de sa femme?

Un mari trop aimé de sa femme was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1844.

Where can I see Un mari trop aimé de sa femme?

Un mari trop aimé de sa femme is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Un mari trop aimé de sa femme?

Un mari trop aimé de sa femme is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Un mari trop aimé de sa femme

Honoré Daumier , 1844

Un mari trop aimé de sa femme 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.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumée’s lithograph Un mari trop aimé de sa femme presents a brief, charged encounter between a woman and a man. Executed in the black‑and‑white medium of lithography, the image freezes a single instant in which the female figure seizes the male’s collar while his face registers surprise. The composition relies on gesture and expression to convey narrative without any accompanying text.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a moment of domestic tension: the woman’s assertive grip and forward‑leaning posture suggest dominance or reproach, while the man’s startled look hints at unexpected accusation or reprimand. The juxtaposition of focus and surprise invites viewers to infer the underlying dynamics of a marital relationship, emphasizing the complexity of affection and authority within the household.

Technique & Style

Created as a lithograph, Daumée employed the traditional stone‑based printing process, allowing for bold, fluid lines and stark contrasts. The artist’s characteristic use of exaggerated gestures and expressive faces, typical of his satirical oeuvre, is evident in the exaggerated hand and the sharply delineated facial features, which heighten the dramatic effect of the scene.

History & Provenance

The print dates from Daumée’s mature period in the mid‑19th century, a time when he frequently explored social and domestic subjects through caricature and genre scenes. While specific ownership records for this particular lithograph are limited, it has appeared in several catalogues of Daumée’s prints and is held in public and private collections that specialize in 19th‑century French graphic art.

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.