Allons donc... que diable cocher...

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier's *Allons donc... que diablecher...* (1843) is a lively lithograph that captures the bustling chaos of mid-19th-century Parisian life. Created during the July Monarchy King Louis-Philippe, Daumier a master caricaturist, often skewered the bourgeoisie and urban frustrations through his prints published in satirical journals like *Le Charivari*. title—"Come on then... damn coachman!"—evokes a quintessential moment of impatience between rider and driver, reflecting the growing pains of France's modernizing capital amid rapid industrialization and class tensions. As a lithograph, this work showcases Daumier's virtuoso technique: drawing directly on stone with greasy crayon to exploit the medium's tonal range and expressive lines, enabling affordable mass production. This democratized satire, making sharp social commentary accessible to a wide audience. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection, it exemplifies the print's role in 19th-century visual culture, blending humor with critique to humanize everyday absurdities. Daumier's unflinching eye for human folly endures, inviting viewers to chuckle at timeless scenarios while pondering the era's social undercurrents. A gem for print enthusiasts!

About the Artist

Honoré Daumier · 1810–1879

Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...