Who painted The Collector of Cigar Stubs?

The Collector of Cigar Stubs was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1841.

Where can I see The Collector of Cigar Stubs?

The Collector of Cigar Stubs is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Collector of Cigar Stubs?

The Collector of Cigar Stubs is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Collector of Cigar Stubs

Honoré Daumier , 1841

The Collector of Cigar Stubs is a print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The work is a printed illustration that appeared as plate 4 in the series titled “The Bohemians of Paris,” published in the satirical newspaper Le Charivari on 5 December 1841. It depicts a solitary figure engaged in the modest task of gathering discarded cigar ends, presented in a restrained, observational manner.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a man in threadbare attire, bent over a pile of cigar stubs with a focused, almost habitual attention. The composition emphasizes his resourcefulness and the quiet dignity of everyday labor, offering a glimpse into the marginal lives of Parisian bohemians during the early nineteenth century.

Technique & Style

Rendered with economical line work and subtle shading, the image relies on tonal gradations to suggest depth and atmosphere rather than elaborate detail. The use of softened transitions recalls the sfumato approach, where edges blur to convey a sense of quiet intimacy within the scene.

History & Provenance

Originally circulated as part of Le Charivari’s illustrated series, the print was reproduced for a broad readership, contributing to contemporary visual commentary on urban poverty. Surviving copies are held in several European print collections, reflecting its role as a documented visual record of Parisian street life in the 1840s.

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.