Allons, papa... encore... trente-deux tours!...

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier's *Allons, papa... encore... trente-deux tours!...* (1847) is a lively lithograph capturing a joyful moment at a fairground carousel. The title, translating to "Come on, daddy... again... thirty-two turns!", evokes a child's insistent plea for one more exhilarating ride, with Daumier's signature exaggerated expressions bringing the scene to vivid life. Printed during the July Monarchy in France, this work reflects the artist's keen eye for everyday pleasures amid social tensions. Daumier, a master of caricature and lithography, produced thousands of prints for satirical journals like *Le Charivari*, using the medium's fluid lines and tonal range to critique bourgeois society and politics. Lithography allowed wide dissemination of his bold, empathetic depictions, making art accessible to the masses. Here, the technique shines in dynamic poses and expressive faces, blending humor with subtle commentary on fleeting joys in a rapidly industrializing world. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection, this print exemplifies Daumier's Realism-infused style, immortalizing mid-19th-century Parisian street life just before the 1848 Revolution. It's a delightful reminder of innocence amid the era's upheavals.

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...