Artwork

The hazards of shaking a plum tree too vigorously, when one too is mature.

The hazards of shaking a plum tree too vigorously, when one too is mature. is a print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The print 'The hazards of shaking a plum tree too vigorously, when one too is mature' is a satirical work published in the French newspaper Le Charivari on May 29, 1845.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a comical scene of an elderly man vigorously shaking a plum tree, resulting in plums falling and his hat flying off, highlighting the absurdity of rural life.

History & Provenance

It was the second plate in Daumier's series 'Pastorals', a collection of humorous country scenes, and is now held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Technique & Style

The work showcases Daumier's skill in creating satirical prints, using caricature to mock societal norms and conventions.

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.