Self-Portrait of a Frenchman, plate 2 from Scénes D'ateliers c. 1849

Honoré Daumier crafted this lithograph, "Self-Portrait of a Frenchman," part of his "Scènes D'ateliers" series. Notice the artist depicted from behind, standing before two canvases, each bearing a rough self-portrait. The scene is rendered in stark monochrome, the lithographic lines creating texture and depth. Daumier uses the studio setting to explore the idea of the artist as both subject and object. The mirroring of the self-portraits suggests a dual perspective. The visible, working artist versus the reflected, idealized image on the canvas. This echoes philosophical musings on identity and representation. The artist is shown not in heroic terms, but as a figure immersed in the act of creation, grappling with his own image. The lack of color directs our attention to the lines and forms. The contrast between the detailed figure and the sketch-like paintings highlights the gap between reality and artistic interpretation. Ultimately, Daumier uses the lithographic medium to not only depict a scene but to provoke thought on the nature of art, identity, and the creative process itself.