Two Atlantes in Conversation
ca. 1855
Medium
Graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 10 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (26.7 x 19 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Karen B. Cohen and Harry G. Sperling Funds, 2005
Accession Number
2005.381
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the mid-19th century, artist Honoré Daum (1808–1879), a master of Realism and caricature, captured the human condition with incisive wit and expressive line work. *Two Atlantes in Conversation*ca. 1855), a graphite drawing on laid measuring 10½ × 7½ inches, exemplifies his prowess as a draughtsman. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this intimate sheet reveals Daumier's fascination with the male nude and classical architecture. The work depicts two muscular atlantes—mythical Titan figures traditionally depicted as architectural supports, bearing the ...
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...