En valachie
1854
Medium
lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Gift of Dr. Armand Hammer)
Accession Number
2015.143.1124
Art Historical Context
**En Valachie** is a striking lithograph by Honoré Daumier, created in 1854 and now part of the National Gallery of Art's Corcoran Collection, gifted by Dr. Armand Hammer. Daumier, a master of French Realism and caricature, produced this print amid the escalating tensions of the Crimean War (1853–1856). The title refers to Wallachia, a Danubian principality caught in the geopolitical crossfire between Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and European powers, highlighting Daumier's keen eye for current events. Renowned for his work in publications like *Le Charivari*, Daumier excelled in lithography—a ...
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...