Who painted Une Guerrier électrisé?

Une Guerrier électrisé was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1843.

Where can I see Une Guerrier électrisé?

Une Guerrier électrisé is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Une Guerrier électrisé?

Une Guerrier électrisé is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Une Guerrier électrisé

Honoré Daumier , 1843

Une Guerrier électrisé is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Une Guerrier électrisé is a 1843 lithograph by Honoré-Victorin Daumier, a French printmaker renowned for satirical works critiquing social and political authority. This piece exemplifies his use of caricature to comment on contemporary power structures.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a figure in military attire, exaggeratedly electrified, amidst a crowd in a dimly lit, possibly makeshift experimental setting. The scene likely satirizes the spectacle of pseudo-scientific or military posturing, using the novelty of electricity as a backdrop for commentary on authority.

Technique & Style

Characterized by quick, sketchy lines and dark tones, the lithograph conveys a sense of lively chaos. The informal, almost journalistic style captures a moment of public spectacle, reflecting Daumier's ability to blend satire with observational detail.

History & Provenance

Created in 1843, *Une Guerrier électrisé* was likely produced for publication in satirical journals like *La Caricature* or *Le Charivari*, where Daumier frequently contributed. Specific provenance details are not provided.

Context

Emerging during a period of scientific curiosity about electricity, the work leverages public fascination with this phenomenon to critique the postures of military and possibly scientific authority, reflecting Daumier's broader commentary on 19th-century French society.

Legacy

As part of Daumier's satirical oeuvre, *Une Guerrier électrisé* contributes to the artist's legacy of using printmaking as a vehicle for social commentary, influencing subsequent generations of artists in the use of satire and caricature for political critique.

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.