France, 19th century / c. 1863
Art Lovers
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Art Lovers as drawing (France, 19th century · c. 1863).
Honoré Daumier produced watercolors primarily for collectors of his work, suggesting that this image, somewhat ironically, was intended to be sold to the very figures it depicts.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this drawing as Gray and black wash, charcoal, and graphite, with watercolor, on cream laid paper and credits Honoré Daumier (French, 1808–1879).
The museum's collection notes: Honoré 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.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtArt LoversOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.