Un jour de représentation a benéfice

Art Historical Context

**Un Jour de Représentation à Bénéfice** Honoré Daumier, 1852 Lithograph; Corcoran Collection ( of Dr. Armand Hammer National Gallery of Art in 1852, *Un Jour de Représentation àénéfice* (A Day of Benefit Performance) captures Honoré Daumier's signature flair through the medium of lithography. Daumier, a prolific French artist and caricaturist (1808–1879), produced thousands of prints for journals like *Le Charivari*, using this technique's versatility to blend sharp drawing with mass reproducibility. The title evokes the bustling chaos of a 19th-century Parisian theater benefit performance, where crowds flocked for discounted shows supporting actors or charities, often highlighting social spectacle and class dynamics. Lithography allowed Daumier to render expressive faces and dynamic compositions with greasy crayon on stone, yielding rich tonal contrasts ideal for his biting social commentary. Amid France's turbulent Second Republic transitioning to Napoleon III's empire, Daumier critiqued bourgeois pretensions and public fervor, turning everyday scenes into profound observations of human folly. This print exemplifies Daumier's enduring legacy as a chronicler of urban life, influencing later realists and cartoonists. Donated through the Corcoran Collection, it invites visitors to ponder how theater mirrored—and mocked—society's hierarchies in mid-19th-century France.

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...