Artwork
Alexander and Diogenes
Alexander and Diogenes is a print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
You see a picture of Alexander the Great standing over Diogenes, who's sitting in a barrel.
The scene is simple, with clean lines and basic shapes.
This print was part of a series called Ancient History, which is interesting because it shows how people in the 19th century thought about ancient stories.
Look up the museum: The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Overview
Alexander and Diogenes is a print published in the French newspaper Le Charivari on August 14, 1842, as part of a series titled Ancient History.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts Alexander the Great standing over Diogenes, who is seated in a barrel, illustrating a famous anecdote from ancient history where Alexander encounters the Cynic philosopher.
Technique & Style
Characterized by clean lines and basic shapes, the composition is simple and unadorned, reflecting a straightforward illustrative style.
Context
As part of the Ancient History series, this print offers insight into 19th-century interpretations and representations of ancient narratives.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
