As you look through the nearly 2'400 drawings listed in this E-Book of drawings, the genius of Honoré Daumier becomes obvious. The ease with which he guided the pencil, expressing with just a few strokes the character of a person or a situation is always amazing and surprising. Most connoisseurs of Daumier's art agree that the drawings best express his brilliance. While most of his lithographs are extraordinary caricatures showing everyday situations as well as political activities, the drawings in this work catalogue reveal a very deep understanding of the persons he depicted.

When talking about Daumier's drawings special attention must also be drawn on "Fakes and Imitations" a first in Art history. The E-Book  lists about 550 "Drawings after Daumier" and 500 "Unconfirmed Drawings". Daumier himself complained already during his lifetime about the numerous imitations of his work, especially of his drawings. After his death, there was almost no limit to imitations and copies.

Another sad chapter, however, must  also not be forgotten. It deals with all the drawings that are unaccounted for. Over 700 drawings (originals and imitations) have been stolen or were lost for various reasons. Two world wars lie between Daumier's time and the present. Many drawings have been confiscated especially in WWII, others got destroyed or were lost over time.

This E-Book allows an easy and complete access to Daumier’s entire oeuvre of drawings.

Lilian and Dieter Noack 

The Daumier-Register

www.daumier.org

(Sept. 2019)