“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas
“You only reproduce what struck you, that is to say the necessary.” – Edgar Degas
Daumier the Artist: In My Home
Do you know much about Daumier? Here is some essential information about this Parisian artist that has been given the honour of ‘providing a critical pathway to the next generation of artists’ which include Degas and Lautrec. More details on the life and works of Degas can be found at Artsy
Much of Daumier’s work pokes fun at the Bourgeois class that firstly came under his gaze when he lived in Paris. He recorded their lives in a satirical way by exaggerating their actions, activities and ideologies.
Three collections were on display at the recent exhibition ‘Paris In The Hunter’ at the Lake Macquarie Art Gallery in Newcastle, NSW that I attended: the Parisian Way of Life; Art of the Theatre; and Revolution, Republic and the New Empire.
Ideas explored in his works included women’s fashion, family interaction, street scenes, public bathing and picnics. ‘A Use of the New Fashion in Underskirts’ comically shows a voluptuous underskirt being used as a parachute.
‘Excitement at the Zoo’ exaggerates the stand off between a Parisian gentleman and an Indian elephant. My favourite and now on my mantlepiece. ‘The Battle Between the Schools’ depicts the battle between idealism versing realism. The people in these works are full of emotive expressions and comedic movement.
Poor eyesight lead to Daumier abandoning his career as an artist. However, not before he had produced around 400 lithographs, 300 paintings, 1,000 woodcuts, 800 drawings and watercolours. This very prolific artist harboured a fondness for classical formal drama. A regular at Comédie-Française, Daumier’s biggest influence was the playwright Moliere.
I have just framed my Daumier print from the ‘Paris In The Hunter‘ exhibition and found a home for it on my mantlepiece. Buying original artwork or reproductions is a great souvenir idea and my tour guests love that we visit Place du Tetre on our way to Sacre Coeur on Day 3 of my all-women tours of Paris. This is a great opportunity to bring something special home from Paris that will always remind you of your time in the City of Lights.
You can find out more about my tours and download beautiful brochures at A French Collection Tours.
