Lot Essay
Daumier executed this drawing in preparation for the watercolor Le Malade imaginaire (Maison, no. 476) which was presumably destroyed in World War II. The subject is drawn from a comedy by Molière (1622-1673), whose astute and sophisticated social satire Daumier greatly admired. The standing figure is Dr. Diafoirus, and seated is his hypochondriac patient Argan. Another study, which is very likely the initial idea for this subject, was left unfinished by the artist and was substantially reworked by another hand (Maison, attribution IV). Two other works which bear the same title are not actually related to Molière's play, as they show a patient who is in reality very ill (Maison, nos. 485 and 486).