Interior of an Inn or The Corridor of an Inn 1862

Charles François Daubigny made this ink drawing of an inn interior using pen on paper. The quick, gestural lines create a sense of depth, pulling us into the dimly lit corridor. Daubigny’s choice of ink as a medium speaks to its practicality and portability, perfect for an artist capturing scenes from everyday life while traveling. The thinness of the ink allows for fine details, like the numbers on the doors, but also for broad strokes that suggest shadows and textures. The social context of this work lies in the rise of tourism and travel during the 19th century. Inns and hotels became important social spaces, and Daubigny’s sketch captures a glimpse of this world. We get a sense of the labor involved in maintaining such a space, from the unseen workers who cleaned the rooms to the guests who occupied them. By focusing on the material and the process, we can appreciate how Daubigny elevated a simple sketch into a commentary on travel, labor, and the changing social landscape of his time.