← Honoré Daumier

L'Amateur

Original title: L'Amateur

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Date

19th century

Medium

Black chalk, pen and black ink, gray wash; lined

Dimensions

Sheet: 5 1/4 x 4 1/8 in. (13.3 x 10.5cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Grégoire Tarnopol, 1979, and Gift of Alexander Tarnopol, 1980

kurzbeschreibung

Honoré Daumier drew "L'Amateur" in the 19th century using black chalk, black ink and gray wash on paper. Two figures stand on the sheet in a deliberately spare arrangement.

Description

Two figures stand side by side. On the left is a more summarily drawn figure in a gown or robe; on the right, one worked out in greater detail in a jacket or coat. Both wear their hair short, and both look to the right. The layout stays bare, with nothing in the background to draw the eye away; shadow and light bring out the gray values.

Context

Daumier (1808–1879) was French and became known above all for his caricatures and paintings. This sheet dates from the 19th century, when he liked to satirize the Parisian bourgeoisie and art lovers. It belongs to a series of works about the art world and collecting.

Impact

Because so much has been left out, attention settles on how the two figures stand together, and a quiet, reflective mood comes through. The loose, flowing lines give the sheet something spontaneous and at the same time familiar.

Technique

Black chalk meets black ink and gray wash. Chalk and ink together produce a finely articulated, textured surface, while the wash brings soft gradations of tone.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)