Who painted The Print Collectors?

The Print Collectors was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1862.

Where can I see The Print Collectors?

The Print Collectors is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Print Collectors?

The Print Collectors is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Print Collectors

Honoré Daumier , 1862

The Print Collectors is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The Print Collectors is a watercolour by Honoré Daumier, depicting a scene of collectors and connoisseurs engaged with prints, a subject the artist frequently revisited.

Subject & Meaning

Daumier's repeated exploration of collectors reflects both commercial appeal to his audience and a deeper fascination with the culture of collecting, capturing the 'disease of collecting' as observed by Henry James.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the work aligns with the Realist movement, characterized by its focus on everyday life and ordinary people, in this case, the intimate, absorbed world of print enthusiasts.

History & Provenance

Previously owned by notable collector Constantine Alexander Ionides, the piece was donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, accompanied by other Daumier works, including 'Railway Waiting Room'.

Context

The scene evokes 19th-century Parisian life, referencing settings like the Louvre's vicinity, print shops, and the Seine, immersing viewers in the era's artistic and collecting milieu.

Legacy

As part of Daumier's oeuvre on collectors, the work contributes to a broader commentary on the Victorian era's collecting practices and the enduring appeal of such themes in art.

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.