In Church

Honoré Daumier

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows three abstract figures closely positioned in a row, their heads and upper bodies visible. The figures appear to be sitting side by side, all facing the right and seen in profile. Their facial features are not distinctly detailed. The person farthest to the left appears elderly, with a thin, frowning mouth, wearing a gray outfit with a white cap on their head. The person next to them on the right appears younger, but only their thin nose and round black eyes are visible. They also wear a gray garment with a white cap, a small strip of black hair visible below the cap. Both of these figures have skin colored in a mix of peach and gray. The third figure is the least distinct, with their skin simply a blur of gray and tan and their hair a smudge of reddish-brown. The background is a blur of earthy tones, with a patch of tan in the upper left corner and mostly browns and grays in the rest of the painting. The brushstrokes in the painting are thick and visible.