The ass and the two thieves, published in Souvenirs d'Artistes
Medium
Lithograph; second state of four (Delteil)
Dimensions
Image: 9 in. × 7 15/16 in. (22.9 × 20.1 cm) Sheet: 12 7/16 × 17 1/2 in. (31.6 × 44.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1928
Accession Number
28.92.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Honoré Daumier’s 1862 lithograph *The Ass and the Two Thieves*, published in the portfolio *Souvenirs d’Artistes*, exemplifies the artist’s mastery of caricature and social satire. Working in the medium of lithography—a technique prized in nineteenth-century France for its ability to produce affordable, widely distributed prints—Daumier used bold lines and expressive shading to comment on human folly. The second state of four impressions reveals his careful refinement of the composition, balancing humor with pointed observation. Created during the Second Empire under Napoleon III, the work re...
About the Artist
Honoré Daumier|Bertauts · 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...