Il y a pourtant des gens qui ressemblent a ça!
1839
Medium
lithograph on newsprint
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1979.49.131
Art Historical Context
Honoré Daumier’s *Il y a pourtant des gens ressemblent a ça!*1839) is a sharp-witted lithograph on newsprint, capturing the artist’s mastery of caricature during the July Monarchy. Printed likely for a satirical publication like *Le Charivari*, Daumier contributed hundreds of works, this piece exemplifies his ability to skewer social pretensions with exaggerated features and wry commentary. The title, translating to “There are nevertheless people who like that!”, hints at his biting humor targeting the bourgeoisie or political elite, whose vanity he relentlessly mocked. Daumier pioneered lith...
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...