Artwork
Un renseignement
Un renseignement is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1864, Honoré Daumier’s lithograph titled *Un renseignement* presents a brief, outdoor encounter between two individuals. One figure carries a sizable bundle of firewood and uses a gestural pose, while the other stands nearby, listening. The composition captures a fleeting moment of everyday exchange, rendered in Daumier’s characteristic satirical tone.
Subject & Meaning
The scene juxtaposes a laborer’s practical burden with a conversational pause, suggesting a moment of informal communication among working‑class people. By emphasizing the act of listening, Daumier hints at the value of information exchange in daily life, while the exaggerated gestures invite viewers to consider the humor inherent in ordinary interactions.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on the fluid lines and tonal variations achievable through stone printing. Daumier’s drawing employs simplified, cartoon‑like forms and slightly distorted anatomy, a stylistic choice that amplifies the comedic effect. The limited palette and bold outlines reinforce the image’s immediacy and visual clarity.
Context
During the 1860s, Daumier frequently turned to print media to comment on social conditions in France. *Un renseignement* aligns with his broader practice of using caricature to critique and observe contemporary life, situating the piece within a period when lithography served both artistic and journalistic purposes.
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.
