Ma chére, je vous apporte une potiche ...
1855
Medium
lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Gift of Dr. Armand Hammer)
Accession Number
2015.143.1181
Art Historical Context
In 1855, French artist Honoré Daumier created *Ma chére, je vous appelle une potiche...* (My dear, I bring you a vase...), a witty lithograph that captures his signature satirical flair. Daumier, a master of the medium, produced thousands of prints for periodicals like *Le Charivari*, using lithography's versatility to blend sharp social observation with expressive line work. This technique allowed for affordable, mass dissemination of his critiques, making art accessible to the public during France's Second Empire under Napoleon III. The title evokes a humorous domestic scene, likely poking ...
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...