Honoré DaumierFrench, 1808–1879Singing Guitarist (recto)
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Singing Guitarist (recto)” now? Collection: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Not on view at present. Checked October 12, 2026.
Cleveland, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
The first six-string guitars appeared simultaneously in Naples and Paris in the 1770s, and by the end of the 19th century the so-called Romantic guitar played a central role in the popular music of the French capital. Daumier’s drawing reflects this interest in street singers and carnival performers. The agitated, almost frenetic tangle of fine lines drawn in pen and ink imbues the figure with life, so that his voice and instrument seem to vibrate with emotion.
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Details
- Accession number
- 1991.59.a
In the catalog
Sources
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Image: The Cleveland Museum of Art — Museum open access
In the life of Honoré Daumier
The whole lifefrom 1853
Summer Trips to Valmondois and Barbizon
From about 1853 Daumier spent the summer months in Valmondois and Barbizon, where Corot, Daubigny, Millet, and Rousseau were working, deepening his friendships with the artists of the Barbizon school.
1858
Serious Illness
In 1858 Daumier suffered a serious illness.
1860
Le Charivari Dropped His Caricatures
After thirty years of continuous work, the popularity of Daumier's caricatures declined, and in 1860 Le Charivari dismissed him from its staff. Years of hardship followed, but also of free time for painting — a period of great productivity and artistic growth.
