DAUMIER HC

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Honoré Daumier (1808-1879) was primarily recognized as a caricaturist; however, he was far more than that. Celebrated as the greatest satirist of his era, he was also one of history's finest draftsmen. His extensive body of work—including lithographs, watercolors, drawings, paintings, and sculptures—focused exclusively on humanity, capturing the enduring qualities, flaws, and vices of mankind. Fascinated by a groundbreaking new lithography technique and immersed in the political upheavals that shaped France and Europe, he contributed satirical cartoons mocking bourgeois society to publications like Caricature and Charivari. His depiction of Louis-Philippe as Gargantua resulted in Daumier's trial and imprisonment, yet he remained undeterred in his political engagement. His interests spanned the vast spectrum from the elite to the ordinary citizen, with an equal emphasis on significant historical events and everyday experiences, including street life, cafés, theaters, exhibitions, and rural settings.

Roger Passeron portrays Daumier as chronicler of the social, political, historical and artistic life of his time, as well as its manners and customs, highlighting the genius of the artist. Born in Marseilles, Daumier moved to the capital at a very early age and regarded himself as a Parisian.

Out Of Print. Condition: Very Fine.