Artwork

Une Famille chez qui réside l'instinct guerrier

Une Famille chez qui réside l'instinct guerrier, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1847
Une Famille chez qui réside l'instinct guerrier, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1847

Une Famille chez qui réside l'instinct guerrier is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Une Famille chez qui réside l'instinct guerrier is a lithograph created by Honoré Daumier in 1847. Characteristic of Daumier's socially conscious body of work, this print conveys satirical commentary through its depiction of a domestic scene.

Subject & Meaning

The lithograph portrays a contrasted duo in a humble, dimly lit room: a tall, formally attired soldier with a rifle and a young boy in simple, outdated clothing, gazing up at the soldier with a serious expression. This juxtaposition may critique the influence of militarism on youth or the societal pressures fostering a 'warrior instinct' within familial environments.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, a technique allowing for widespread dissemination of images, the work features Daumier's distinctive sketchy, quickly drawn aesthetic. The blurred soldier's face and the overall rough texture underscore the artist's emphasis on expressive immediacy over detailed realism.

History & Provenance

Produced during a period of significant political turmoil in France, this 1847 lithograph aligns with Daumier's republican and democratic sympathies. It was likely created for publication in a satirical journal, such as *La Caricature* or *Le Charivari*, where Daumier regularly published his critiques of French monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy.

Context

Within the broader context of Daumier's oeuvre, *Une Famille chez qui réside l'instinct guerrier* sits alongside numerous caricatures and prints that targeted the social and political elite of 19th-century France, reflecting the artist's commitment to social commentary and reform.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.