Who painted Une Soirée au corps de garde?

Une Soirée au corps de garde was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1847.

Where can I see Une Soirée au corps de garde?

Une Soirée au corps de garde is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Une Soirée au corps de garde?

Une Soirée au corps de garde is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Une Soirée au corps de garde?

Museum-quality prints of Une Soirée au corps de garde are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Une Soirée au corps de garde

Honoré Daumier , 1847

Une Soirée au corps de garde 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. Created in 1847, this lithograph on newsprint shows a modest interior of a guardhouse where two soldiers are engaged in everyday tasks.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1847, this lithograph on newsprint shows a modest interior of a guardhouse where two soldiers are engaged in everyday tasks. One figure stands, yawning, while the other sits, occupied with reading or writing. The composition is rendered in muted tones and strong line work, giving the scene a quiet, almost somnolent atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a moment of routine military life, emphasizing the mundane over heroic spectacle. By focusing on the soldiers' fatigue and idle activity, the image subtly comments on the human side of armed service, aligning with the artist’s broader interest in portraying ordinary people within institutional settings.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the piece utilizes bold contours and careful shading to suggest depth on the inexpensive newsprint substrate. The restrained palette of dark grays and blacks, combined with expressive line, reflects a style that bridges realistic observation with the exaggerated gestures typical of satirical printmaking.

History & Provenance

The lithograph was produced during a prolific period when the artist contributed regularly to satirical journals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari. Created amid the political ferment of the July Monarchy, it formed part of a larger body of graphic work that addressed public life and authority in mid‑19th‑century France.

Context

At the time of its creation, France was experiencing intense political debate between republican and monarchical forces. The artist’s republican sympathies informed his visual commentary, and this image fits within a tradition of using everyday scenes to critique institutional power without overt caricature.

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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.