Artwork

Vue prise a la buvette d'un bain

Vue prise a la buvette d'un bain, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1865
Vue prise a la buvette d'un bain, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1865

Vue prise a la buvette d'un bain is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

You see three people in a modest room, one man leaning in to drink while a child watches.

Here’s a plainspoken glimpse of Daumier’s 1865 lithograph. You see three people in a modest room, one man leaning in to drink while a child watches. Daumier knew Parisian life inside out. He often mocked social habits in quick, sharp prints like this one.

Daumier’s lithographs spread fast because they were cheap and bold. This one shows how he turned everyday scenes into quiet jokes.

Now go look up lithography online.

Overview

Created in 1865, this lithographic print by Honoré Daumier, titled "Vue prise à la buvette d'un bain," presents a modest interior scene. Three figures occupy the space: a man leaning forward with a cup, a child nearby, and a third, less defined presence. The composition captures a brief, everyday moment of drinking and observation within a simple room.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a man bent over a cup, suggests a casual social interaction, while the child’s attentive posture introduces a contrast between adult leisure and youthful curiosity. Daumier’s choice of a mundane setting reflects his interest in portraying ordinary Parisian life, offering a subtle commentary on the routines and small dramas of the urban populace.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the work employs the medium’s capacity for swift, reproducible lines and tonal contrasts. Daurier’s characteristic brisk drawing style is evident in the loose yet precise contours, allowing the scene to convey immediacy. The limited palette of black and white emphasizes form and gesture over decorative detail, reinforcing the observational tone.

History & Provenance

Printed in the mid‑nineteenth century, the lithograph circulated widely due to the affordability of the medium, reaching a broad audience beyond elite collectors. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is documented among Daumier’s prolific series of social prints that were distributed through Parisian print shops and later entered museum collections specializing in 19th‑century French graphic art.

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.