Author(s): John Berger

Art & Design

Honore Daumier (1808-1879) is perhaps best known for his political and social caricatures, precise and witty observations of life in nineteenth-century France. This authoritative new study provides a long-overdue assessment of his entire oeuvre, bringing together his paintings, sculptures, watercolours, drawings and lithographs, all of which were greatly admired in his lifetime. Later feted by Van Gogh and Picasso, Daumiers art continues to be appreciated by such contemporary artists as Paula Rego and Peter Doig. Lavishly illustrated with works from throughout Daumiers career, including the satirical lithographs that made his name, the book focuses on the innovative paintings and drawings that formed his more private output. These lesser-known works reveal the artists ambitious range of subject-matter, from Cervantess Don Quixote to the complete spectrum of Parisian street society, and confirm Daumiers unique place in nineteenth-century French art.