Who painted Fumeur et Buveur d'absinthe?

Fumeur et Buveur d'absinthe was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1858.

Where can I see Fumeur et Buveur d'absinthe?

Fumeur et Buveur d'absinthe is held by Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection.

What movement is Fumeur et Buveur d'absinthe?

Fumeur et Buveur d'absinthe is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Fumeur et Buveur d'absinthe

Honoré Daumier , 1858

Fumeur et Buveur d'absinthe is an oil painting by the Realist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1858, this oil on canvas by the French artist Honoré Daumier is part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. The work presents a quiet interior scene dominated by two seated figures, rendered in a restrained palette that emphasizes the subdued mood of the moment.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a pair of men sharing a table; the figure on the left holds a smoking pipe, while his companion, turned slightly toward him, appears to be listening or observing. The restrained gestures and serious expressions suggest a contemplative or perhaps weary interaction, reflecting everyday life rather than a narrative episode.

Technique & Style

Daumier employs a limited range of dark hues, allowing subtle variations of light to define the forms. The brushwork is smooth, with careful modeling of facial features and the billowing pipe smoke. The overall tonal unity and the focus on ordinary subjects are characteristic of Daumier’s realist approach to genre painting.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. Its creation in the late 1850s places it within a prolific period for Daumier, who was simultaneously producing caricatures and socially observant works that documented the lives of the Parisian middle class.

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.