Artwork
Knock and it will open for you!
Knock and it will open for you! is a print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Knock and it will open for you! is a lithograph published in Le Charivari on December 14, 1850, as part of the News of the Day series. The work depicts a poignant scene of social struggle.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a destitute man knocking on a closed door, his tension mirrored in the anxious faces of two waiting women. The image critiques the social and economic barriers faced by the poor in 1850s France, highlighting their exclusion from opportunities.
Technique & Style
As a lithograph, the piece showcases Daumier's characteristic use of the medium for social commentary. The emphasis on expressive facial features and body language underscores the emotional depth of the scene, typical of Daumier's approach to illustrating the human condition.
History & Provenance
Published in Le Charivari, a Parisian newspaper, on December 14, 1850, as plate 41 in the News of the Day series. The artwork is attributed to Honoré Daumier, a prominent figure in 19th-century French caricature and social commentary.
Context
Created amidst the social and economic upheavals of 1850s France, the piece reflects the era's stark class divisions and the struggles of the impoverished. Le Charivari's platform amplified the work's message, targeting a broad audience.
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.
