HONORÉ DAUMIER. Mirror of Society
at the Albertina in Vienna from February 6 to May 25, 2026,
The political situation is unstable, a ruthless clique abuses its power, the economy is faltering, and the social situation is becoming increasingly complex and opaque. Descriptions of conditions in post-revolutionary 19th-century France seem strangely contemporary—and the same holds true for the timelessly relevant art of the great Honoré Daumier.
With a sharp quill and incorruptible humor, he held up a mirror to his era, denouncing abuses of power and social injustices. In his unrelenting radicalism, he frequently clashed with censorship and even went to prison for the freedom of art. As a keen observer, Daumier also captured everyday life in the modern city.
The ALBERTINA presented the first major Daumier exhibition in 1936, in the face of the rising fascist regime, curated by Ernst Kris, who was later forced into exile. Ninety years later, it now shows the French artist in a new light, supported by loans from the Städel Museum (Städelscher Museums-Verein). In addition to numerous lithographs and drawings, some of his famous paintings and sculptures are on display—as well as a filmic compilation of Daumier’s works, set to music by none other than Paul and Linda McCartney.
(c) 2026 Text and picture by Albertina Wien