Une Descente en parachute
1852
Medium
lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Gift of Dr. Armand Hammer)
Accession Number
2015.143.567
Art Historical Context
**Une Descente en Parachute** (1852) by Honoré Daum captures a thrilling moment of aerial daring through the medium of lithography, now housed in the National Gallery of Art's Corcoran Collection (Gift of Dr. Armand Hammer This print exemplifies Daumier’s mastery of the technique, which he employed to create bold, reproducible images with fluid lines and dramatic contrasts. Lithography, invented decades earlier, revolutionized printmaking in 19th-century France, enabling artists like Daumier to disseminate satirical commentary widely and affordably. Daumier (1808–1879), a pivotal figure in Fr...
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...