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Honore Daumier (1808-1879)
Honore Daumier was born in 1808 in France. He was a painter, sculptor, and caricaturist. His fame has increased since his death in 1879.
Daumier grew up writing poetry. In 1814, his family moved to Paris. They didn’t have a lot of money, so he was forced to work as a delivery boy while sketching at the Louvre in his spare time. In 1822, he began to study under Alexandre Lenoir. In 1828, he learned a new technique that would prove to be the core of his career.
Transnonain Street, 1834
In 1830, at age 22, Daumier had mastered the process of lithography. Although lithography was fairly new at this time, Daumier showed a real talent for this form of art and began to create political cartoons. They often bore anti-government themes. His fierce Republican values landed him in prison when his cartoons attacked Louis-Philippe. He had drawn Louis-Philippe swallowing bags of gold that he took from the people.
When political satire was prohibited in 1835, he continued his satirical pursuits, now choosing social life as his subject. By 1848 and the revolution, his focus shifted back to political satire. It is estimated that he made over 4,000 lithographs. As he neared the end of his life, he was nearly blind. He then turned to painting.
The Miller, His Son and the Donkey, 1849-1850
Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, 1849-1850
Daumier’s only exhibitions of his paintings took place at the Salon. They received very little attention during his lifetime. They usually bore satirical themes while dealing with contemporary life and manners. His painting style was free and uninhibited.
Other paintings dealt with the lower class for which he had a great compassion. Some of the paintings show Romantic characteristics.
The Uprising, 1860
Ratapoil, 1891
Throughout his career, Daumier also created some impressive sculptures. Most also bear satirical, political themes. They were usually cast in bronze.
A Wagon of the Third Class
The Kiss
Don Quixote and Sancho Pansa
Late in life, Daumier had become friends with Corot. By this time, Daumier’s body of work had grown. He had produced 4000 graphic works, hundreds of paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Still, he struggled financially as he had done for his entire life.
Corot made the grand gesture of purchasing a house for his friend. This is where Daumier lived until his death in 1879.
Anyone owning an original work of Daumier will probably notice a satirical theme or a painting executed in sketchy strokes.
