Kop van een oude man met opengesperde mond

About this artwork

height 77 mm x width 75 mm

Art Historical Context

This intimate pen drawing by Honoré Daumier presents a striking close-up of an elderly man’s head, his mouth agape in a moment of raw expression. Measuring just 77 by 75 millimeters, the work’s small scale invites close viewing, emphasizing the immediacy of the artist’s line work. The title, “Kop van een oude man met opengesperde mond,” underscores its focus on capturing a fleeting, dramatic facial gesture. Daumier, known for his incisive observations of 19th-century life, frequently used pen studies like this to explore human emotion and character. The medium allows for quick, energetic strokes that convey both the texture of aged skin and the intensity of the open mouth, turning a simple head study into a vivid character sketch. Such drawings reveal Daumier’s working process, where spontaneous pen lines distilled personality and social commentary into compact forms. This piece offers visitors a sense of the artist’s ability to transform everyday observation into compelling visual storytelling.

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...