“- Oh blast! .... it's again my own dog that I shot..... that's the third one in two years.... I'm really not very lucky at hunting!,” plate 6 from Croquis D'automne par Daumier

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier’s 1865 lithograph captures a moment of comic misfortune in the French countryside. The print shows a hapless hunter lamenting that he has once again shot his own dog—his third such mishap in two years—while the title’s wry caption underscores the absurdity. Created as plate 6 in the series *Croquis d’automne*, the image belongs to Daumier’s long-running commentary on bourgeois leisure and pretension during France’s Second Empire. Daumier was a master of lithography, a medium that allowed rapid, affordable distribution of satirical images to a broad public. His bold, expressive line and economical shading convey both the hunter’s dismay and the dog’s plight with lively economy. Though gentle in tone, the print subtly critiques the incompetence and self-delusion of amateur sportsmen who fancied themselves skilled outdoorsmen. Today the work resides in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection of prints and drawings, where it exemplifies Daumier’s gift for turning everyday folly into enduring social observation. The modest sheet size and crisp black-and-white contrasts make the humor immediate, inviting viewers to share a knowing chuckle across more than a century and a half.

About the Artist

Honoré-Victorin Daumier · 1808–1879

Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...