Le Dortoir d'un pensionnat bien tenu

Art Historical Context

**Le Dortoir d'un pensionnat bien tenuThe Dormitory of a-Kept Boarding School, a 1846 lithograph by Honoré Daum, offers a sharp glimpse into mid-19th-century French. Daumier, a master of caricature and social satire, depicts the stark, regimented dormitory of a boarding school, where rows of neatly aligned beds underscore the rigid discipline imposed on children of the bourgeoisie. Created during the July Monarchy under Louis-Philippe, this print reflects Daumier's keen eye for critiquing institutional life and class pretensions, often published in satirical journals like *Le Charivari*. As 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...