Who painted Une Réparation d'honneur?

Une Réparation d'honneur was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1845.

Where can I see Une Réparation d'honneur?

Une Réparation d'honneur is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Une Réparation d'honneur?

Une Réparation d'honneur is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Une Réparation d'honneur

Honoré Daumier , 1845

Une Réparation d'honneur is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1845, this lithographic print titled *Une Réparation d'honneur* depicts three formally dressed gentlemen standing in close proximity.

Created in 1845, this lithographic print titled *Une Réparation d'honneur* depicts three formally dressed gentlemen standing in close proximity. Each figure wears a top hat and a suit; the rightmost man is shown adjusting his gloves. Their expressions are solemn, rendered with swift, sketch‑like lines that convey a sense of immediacy. The caption below the image offers a mock‑apology, playing on the notion of a “repair of honor.”

Subject & Meaning

The scene satirizes the rituals of aristocratic propriety, suggesting that the gentlemen’s concern for honor is superficial. By presenting a fabricated apology in the lower text, the work mocks the performative nature of social etiquette and the hollow gestures used to resolve minor disputes among the elite. The seriousness of the figures contrasts with the absurdity of the written apology, highlighting Daumier’s critique of pretentiousness.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph on newsprint, the image employs the quick, gestural line work characteristic of Daumier’s press drawings. The medium allows for rapid production and wide dissemination, while the rough, sketch‑like quality emphasizes spontaneity over polished finish. The use of newsprint reinforces the work’s connection to the satirical newspapers for which it was originally published, blurring the line between fine art and mass‑media illustration.

History & Provenance

The print first appeared in the republican‑leaning periodicals *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, venues through which Daumier regularly commented on French political and social life between the July Revolution of 1830 and the collapse of the Second Empire in 1870. Its survival on inexpensive paper reflects the ephemerality of such publications, yet the work endures as a documented example of Daumier’s engagement with contemporary public discourse.

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.