Ne sachant plus comment utiliser leurs loisirs ...

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier's *Ne sachant plus comment utiliser leurs loisirs...* (1856) is a sharp lithograph that captures the artist's signature satirical wit. Translated as "No longer knowing how to use their leisure time...," the print likely depicts the ennui of the emerging French bourgeoisie, fumbling awkwardly with newfound free time amid the industrial boom of the Second Empire under Napoleon III. Daumier, a prolific 19th-century caricaturist, produced over 4,000 lithographs for journals like *Le Charivari*, using humor to skewer social pretensions and political hypocrisy. Lithography, Daumier's preferred medium, allowed for intricate, expressive lines and mass reproduction, making his critiques accessible to a wide audience. This technique's greasy crayon on stone enabled bold contrasts and dynamic compositions, amplifying the irony of idle figures lost in purposelessness—a recurring theme in his work critiquing modern urban life. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Corcoran Collection (gift of Dr. Armand Hammer), this print exemplifies Daumier's enduring legacy as a chronicler of 19th-century French society, blending artistry with incisive social observation for viewers then and now.

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...