Un Coup de Vent non Prédit par Mathieu (de la Drôme), Plate 1 of "Croquis d'Hiver"
Original title: Un Coup de Vent non Prédit par Mathieu (de la Drôme), Plate 1 of "Croquis d'Hiver"
kurzbeschreibung
Two figures are knocked flat by a sudden gust of wind — Honoré Daumier captured this motif in a lithograph in 1864. The black-and-white print belongs to the series 'Croquis d'Hiver' and is the first sheet in that set.
Description
A violent blast of air has caught two people and thrown them down. Wavy lines make the force and direction of the wind legible, while coats and hats flap away with it. Behind the figures a city view with houses and a tower emerges. The layout pushes forward and fastens the eye on the two figures and the raging weather.
Context
For the satirical magazine 'Le Charivari', Daumier drew the series 'Croquis d'Hiver', which appeared there from December 1864. In it he takes the whims of winter weather humorously to task. The artist was known for his socially critical and satirical portrayals of everyday life in the nineteenth century.
Impact
Because the figures are at the mercy of the natural element, the print feels immediate and almost comic. The restless linework brings dynamism to the image and gives the whole thing something alive, almost cinematic.
Technique
The sheet was made as a lithograph: a greasy chalk is drawn onto a limestone block. The delicate, detailed strokes typical of Daumier make it possible to render movement and surface texture precisely.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)