
Honoré Daumier法国, 1808–1879Honoré Daumier was known for his witty depictions of contemporary Parisian types, including the art collectors seen in this drawing. The sheet belongs to a series in which the artist depicted these connoisseurs in the process of closely studying works of art. Although here, the men's focus seems sincere, in many works Daumier caricatured his subjects' greediness, smugness, or obliviousness.
克利夫蘭藝術博物館
1863
Departure from the Île Saint-Louis to Montmartre
By 1863 Daumier was selling off his furniture to raise funds; he left the Île Saint-Louis and in 1863–1865 moved through a succession of lodgings in Montmartre, losing touch with many of his friends.
1864
New Contract with Le Charivari
In 1864 Le Charivari offered Daumier a new contract; he returned to caricature to earn a living and found an appreciative public, producing 100 lithographs in a year for an income of 400 francs a month.
1865
Settling in Valmondois
After spending the summer of 1865 in Valmondois with Théodore Rousseau, whose health was failing, Daumier soon left Montmartre for good and rented a small cottage in Valmondois, where he lived for the rest of his life.
c. 1865 – 1866
Onset of Failing Eyesight
Around 1865–1866 Daumier's eyesight began to fail; the condition progressed, though he continued to make drawings and poster sketches as late as 1872 and painted almost until his death.