The Painter in Front of His Painting (Le Peintre devant son tableau)
c. 1870
Oil on panel
11 × 8 cm (4.3 × 3.1 in)
SEE IT IN PERSON
● On view now — Collection Gallery, Room 09, West Wall
Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia · verified July 2026
Discussion
FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG
Caught in the middle of his creative process, the artist in this painting stands before his easel in contemplation. The solitary, uncertain figure likely represents Daumier himself and serves as allegory on the theme of the crises faced by the modern artist. The bare background further emphasizes the isolation of the figure, and the unseen picture on the canvas provides an added sense of mystery.
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