Honoré Daumier Quotes

Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor, whose many works offer commentary on social and political life in France in the 19th century.

Daumier produced more than 500 paintings, 4000 lithographs, 1000 wood engravings, 1000 drawings and 100 sculptures. A prolific draughtsman, he was perhaps best known for his caricatures of political figures and satires on the behavior of his countrymen, although posthumously the value of his painting has also been recognized. Wikipedia  

✵ 26. February 1808 – 10. February 1879
Honoré Daumier photo
Honoré Daumier: 6   quotes 1   like

Famous Honoré Daumier Quotes

“We have not died in vain”

title/caption in Daumier's print; in the last publication of 'La Caricature', 27 August 1835; from: Daumier, the Man and the Artist, Michael Sadleir; Halton and Truscott Smith LTD, London, 1924, p. 9; from website Daumier http://www.daumier.org/14.0.html#c760
1830's

“Dear Monsieur,
I can make a drawing for you; when you have time to see me we will talk about it. I am always at home during the day.
I have the honor of greeting you, h. Daumier.”

Quote of Daumier from his handwritten, undated letter, presumably to mr. Deschamps, probably Monday 20 December 1843; from website Daumier http://www.daumier.org/14.0.html#c760
1840's

“My dear Genron, I am forced to write to you because I can not go to see you because I am detained at Ste. Pelagie by a slight indisposition.... I eagerly await your response. Reply me right away about Cabat or Huet; my respects to your family..
Farewell, the Gouape, H.-D.
she is always in all her Charms (the Republic) - do not talk to me about politics because the letters are opened.”

Quote in Daumier's letter, from prison Ste. Pelagie Prison, Paris, 9 October, 1832; as quoted on website Daumier http://www.daumier.org/14.0.html#c760
His political print 'Gargantua' https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Honor%C3%A9_Daumier_-_Gargantua.jpg, published in 'La Caricature', 1832, cost Daumier six months in prison, because of insulting king Louis Philippe
1830's

“Paris, 30-7-1843, h. Daumier - I, the undersigned, Honoré Daumier declare to reduce the price of my drawings in lithography, to forty francs the drawing with the condition
1st, that the first 11 stones which I will deliver to 'Charivari' will be paid to me at the old price, that is, fifty francs each.
2° that this reduction will be made to me as long as M Dutacy remains attached to the...'Charivari'; this having been made for the sole purpose of being agreeable to him.”

Quote in a handwritten letter, by Daumier, 30 June, 1843; confirming his agreement with Philipon; from website Daumier http://www.daumier.org/14.0.html#c760
40 Francs for each lithograph; this is one of the few documents, showing the income which Daumier drew from his artistic activity. With this salary he would be able to support a family of four
1840's

“The swarm of ducks so darkens the sky that poor Europe does not know which way to go”

original French text: 'La nuée des canards obscurcissant tellement l'air que la pauvre Europe ne sait plus quel chemin prendre'
title/caption in Daumier's print; published in 'La Caricature', 1833-35; number 3601 in the catalogue raisonné by Loys Delteil, Le peintre-graveur illustré, Vol. 28 (New York: Da Capo Press, 1969); as quoted on samfoxschool http://samfoxschool.wustl.edu/node/11263#footnote-1-ref
The word 'canards' refers to physical ducks; it also means unfounded rumors or exaggerated stories. Ducks, symbolizing rumors was a visual motif Daumier used both before and after this print
1830's

“I was sick these days here is what prevented me from delivering my stones last Friday as I promised you I am in the purgations it is better and I hope to send my stones Tuesday at the latest... Bien a vous, - h. Daumier”

Quote from an undated letter of Daumier [c. 1850's] to Pierre Véron
Véron was a later editor [1850's] of the Charivari; Daumier is excusing himself for not being able to deliver the lithographic stones as promised because he was ill.
undated quotes

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