Standing Figure of a Man with a Staff 1825 - 1879

Honoré Daumier made this drawing of a standing man with a staff, on paper, sometime in the 19th century. Daumier was working in France during a time of great social and political upheaval. Although Daumier is known for his caricatures of political figures, this character seems anonymous and generalized. His heavy brow is furrowed, and his mouth is set into a grim line. The figure’s clothing appears to be ragged. France was moving from an agricultural to an industrial society. It underwent multiple revolutions. Using sources from the popular press, we know that Daumier was deeply sympathetic to the plight of ordinary people, and he also held deep skepticism toward authority. Art history gives us tools to understand such images. By researching the artist’s life and times, we can better understand the social conditions that helped produce this poignant drawing.