French artist Honore Daumier was a prolific painter, caricaturist, and sculptor known for his satirical depictions of 19th-century French society and politics. His painting style features loose brushwork that imbues emotion and drama into his works. Daumier’s most famous painting, “Third-class Carriage,” is a powerful representation of the struggles faced by the lower classes.
In addition to being an accomplished painter, Daumier created more than 4,000 lithographs in his lifetime. Many of these pieces were biting satires of political figures and bourgeois behavior. Despite the humor in some of his works, Daumier earned a living through his political commentary by producing caricatures and cartoons.
Daumier’s artwork provides valuable insight into social and political life in France from 1830 to 1870. The historical and mythological depictions he created are also considered important examples of history paintings. Overall, Honore Daumier remains one of the most wide-ranging realists of the 19th century due to the versatility shown in his artwork throughout many mediums over time.