The Thieves and the Donkey 1860

"The Thieves and the Donkey" is a painting by French artist Honoré Daumier, created in 1860, and now on display at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The artwork depicts a struggle between two men, likely thieves, over a stolen donkey, a common theme in Daumier's work, often used to criticize social injustices. The scene is captured in a dynamic pose, with the figures contorted in a chaotic fight, highlighting the intensity of the struggle. Daumier's use of dark tones and loose brushstrokes creates a sense of realism and immediacy, characteristic of his style, which is associated with the Realist movement.