Two Men
1801 to 1825
Medium
graphite on heavy wove paper
Dimensions
overall: 20.1 x 15.8 cm (7 15/16 x 6 1/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.9319
Art Historical Context
Honoré Daumier's *Two Men* (ca. 1801–1825) is a compelling graphite drawing on heavy wove paper, just 20.1 x 15.8 cm. Created during the artist's formative years in post-Revolutionary France, this study captures two figures with Daumier's signature economy of line and keen observation. Born in 1808, Daumier honed his skills as a draftsman amid the social upheavals of the and early July Monarchy, laying the groundwork for his later fame as a Realist master and caricaturist. The medium—graphite on sturdy wove paper—highlights Daumier's technical prowess, allowing for subtle tonal modeling and d...
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...