Attention, Gargouillet, v'la le bourgeois qui passe...
1842
Medium
lithograph on newsprint
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1979.49.104
Art Historical Context
Honoré Daumier's *Attention, Gargouillet, v'la le qui passe...* (1842) is a vivid lithograph on newsprint that captures the sharp social satire for which the artist is renowned. Created during France's July Monarchy under King Louis-Philippe, a period marked by growing class tensions between the rising bourgeoisie and the working poor, this print exemplifies Daumier's role as a pioneering caricaturist. Published in popular journals like *Le Charivari*, his works used humor to critique societal hypocrisies, often landing him in legal trouble for political commentary. The title, translating to ...
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...