Un chapeau ... deux chapeaux ... les malheureux ...

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier’s *Un chapeau ... deux chapeaux les malheureux ...*1847) is a poignant lithograph that captures the artist's sharp wit and empathy for the urban poor during France’s July Monarchy. As a leading caricaturist of his time, Daumier thousands of lithographs for satirical publications like *Le Charivari*, using the medium’s versatility to blend humor with biting social critique. This print, part of the National Gallery of Art’s Corcoran Collection (gift of Dr. Armand Hammer), exemplifies his mastery of lithography—a process allowing for rich tonal contrasts and expressive lines drawn directly on stone. The evocative title, translating to “One hat ... two hats ... the poor wretches ...,” likely depicts ragged figures scavenging or quarreling over meager possessions, highlighting the desperation of Paris’s lower classes amid economic hardship and political tension just before the 1848 Revolution. Daumier’s exaggerated features and dynamic compositions humanize the “malheureux” (unfortunates), transforming caricature into a powerful indictment of inequality. This work underscores lithography’s role in 19th-century mass media, making social commentary accessible to a wide audience and influencing later realist movements. Visitors will appreciate Daumier’s blend of compassion and satire, a timeless reminder of art’s capacity to voice the voiceless.

About the Artist

Honoré Daumier · 1810–1879

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...