Honore Daumier was a talented French artist born in Marseille on 26 February 1808. Honore’s father, Jean-Baptiste, was a glazier, poet, and copyright, albeit not so famous. Jean-Baptiste moved his family to Paris in 1816 to find favor in the court and become famous. Honore enjoyed a lower-middle-class education but leaned towards art rather than his studies.
At age 12, Daumier worked as a messenger for a law firm and later as a bookshop assistant. Honore’s persistence led his family to enroll him in informal classes with Alexander Lenoir, an artist, and friend of the family. Daumier gained formal art education at the Academie Suisse, where he met like-minded students.
Daumier earned a living as a lithographer and caricaturist for most of his career. The multi-talented artist was also a sculptor and exhibited more paintings later in his career. Honore’s caricatures mocked the political regime, and in 1862 King Louis-Philippe sentenced him to six months in prison. Daumier was awarded the French Legion of Honour award, which he declined twice because of his political standpoints. Honore Daumier died on 18 February 1879.
What was Honore Daumier Known For?
Honore Daumier was known for his satirical caricatures and was also identified as one of the pioneer artists with an Impressionist influence on modern art. Honore was politically inclined and led a fight against social injustice with his friends and fellow artists.
Who was Honore Daumier Influenced By?
Honore Daumier was influenced by Charles Ramelet, whom he learned lithography from. Daumier was also influenced by Paul Rubens, whose work he encountered during his time with Lenoir.
What Art Movement was Honore Daumier Associated With?
Honore Daumier was associated with the Impressionism and Realism art movements. Although his recognition as a painter came after his death, his paintings addressed literal subjects. In contrast, his other art forms focused on contemporary issues.
Honore Daumier’s Artwork
Below are some of the artworks of Honore Daumier.
The lawyers
Burden
Print collector
The laundress
The third class carriage
The uprising
Wandering saltimbanques
Self portrait
Family scene
The Ratapoil
The smiling man
Four lawyers
The three connoisseurs
Fatherly discipline
Alexandre Lecomte
Antoine Odier
Guizot
The Concierge
Three gossips
Frightened woman
All Honore Daumier Artwork on Artchive
| Artwork Name | Year | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Wandering Saltimbanques | c.1847 - c.1850 | Oil on Panel |
| At The Theater (the Melodrama) | c. 1860-64 | Oil On Canvas |
| A Man Reading In A Garden | c. 1866-68 | Watercolor Over Black Chalk, With Pen And Ink, Wash, And Conte Crayon On Wove Paper |
| Don Quixote And Sancho Panza | c. 1850 | |
| The Painter At His Easel | c. 1870-75 | Oil On Panel |
| The Print Collectors | c. 1860-63 | Oil On Panel |
| Children Coming Out Of School | c. 1847-48 | Oil On Panel |
| The Past, The Present, The Future | 1834 | Lithograph On Heavy White Paper; First State Of Two |
| The Two Lawyers | c. 1862-64 | Oil On Panel |
| Two Sculptors | Oil On Wood | |
| Crispin and Scapin | c.1863 - c.1865 | Oil on Canvas |
| Laundress on the Quai d'Anjou (Laveuse au Quai d'Anjou) | c. 1860 | Oil on wood panel, cradled |
| Clown Playing a Drum | c. 1865-67 | Black chalk, pen and ink, wash, watercolor, gouache, and Conte Crayon on paper |
| Don Quixote and Sancho Panza | c. 1866-68 | Oil on Canvas |
| The Chess Players | c.1863 - c.1867 | Oil on Panel |
| André-Marie-Jean-Jacques Dupin (Dupin the Elder) | 1832 | |
| Mr Daumier, your series...is...charming | 1838 | Lithograph |
| Rue Transnonain, 15 April 1834 | 1834 | Lithograph |
| The Third-Class Carriage | 1863-65 | Oil on Canvas |
| The Uprising | c. 1860 | Oil on Canvas |
| Three Lawyers Conversing | c. 1862-65 | Oil on panel |
| The Fugitives | c. 1849-50 | Oil on panel |
