Who painted Un souvenir de gloire?

Un souvenir de gloire was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1846.

Where can I see Un souvenir de gloire?

Un souvenir de gloire is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Un souvenir de gloire?

Un souvenir de gloire is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Un souvenir de gloire

Honoré Daumier , 1846

Un souvenir de gloire is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1846 lithograph *Un souvenir de gloire* presents a quiet domestic scene: two figures sit side‑by‑side at a small table, engaged in a low‑key exchange. Rendered in a single tonal palette, the print captures a fleeting moment of closeness, inviting the viewer to contemplate the subtle dynamics of everyday conversation.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on the interaction between the two sitters, whose relaxed posture and attentive expressions suggest mutual familiarity and shared sentiment. By isolating the figures from any elaborate background, Daumée underscores the human connection itself, reflecting his broader interest in the nuances of social relations and the unspoken bonds that link ordinary people.

Technique & Style

Executed as a monochrome lithograph, the piece relies on delicate line work and varied shading to model the faces and hands. Daumée’s handling of contrast highlights the expressive contours of the subjects, while the economy of detail emphasizes gesture over setting, a hallmark of his approach to printmaking in the mid‑19th century.

Context

Created during a period when Daumée was turning his attention to scenes of daily life, *Un souvenir de gloire* aligns with his series of genre images that document contemporary French society. The lithograph’s focus on intimate, unremarkable moments reflects the artist’s commitment to portraying the lived experience of ordinary citizens amid the social changes of the 1840s.

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.