Skip to main content
Membership Donate Shop Gertrude's
A fashionable dresscoat. – Monsieur, I assure you that this suit is very becoming!…. – Yes, both becoming and economical…. with a jacket like this, one could very well answer the door and be taken for one’s own servant!
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

A fashionable dresscoat. – Monsieur, I assure you that this suit is very becoming!…. – Yes, both becoming and economical…. with a jacket like this, one could very well answer the door and be taken for one’s own servant!

1845

Scroll
A fashionable dresscoat. – Monsieur, I assure you that this suit is very becoming!…. – Yes, both becoming and economical…. with a jacket like this, one could very well answer the door and be taken for one’s own servant!

Honoré Daumier

A fashionable dresscoat. – Monsieur, I assure you that this suit is very becoming!…. – Yes, both becoming and economical…. with a jacket like this, one could very well answer the door and be taken for one’s own servant!

Honoré Daumier

A fashionable dresscoat. – Monsieur, I assure you that this suit is very becoming!…. – Yes, both becoming and economical…. with a jacket like this, one could very well answer the door and be taken for one’s own servant!

1845

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 365 × 250 mm. (14 3/8 × 9 13/16 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 68 from the series "Les Beaux jours de la vie"
Credit Line Gift of Ann Hoff, Hyndman, Pennsylvania, in Memory of William L. Hoff
Object Number 1989.723

Inscribed: FACE (in image): 'Un habit à la mode'; '-Monsieur je vous jure que cet habit avantage beaucoup!... -Oui c'est avantageux et économique... avec une veste pareille on peut très bien aller ouvrir la porte quand on sonne, et se faire passer pour son propre domestique!..'; (in graphite): BE, at left, 'D1156', at center, '114-C-117 C $6.-', at right 'L O 1156'

Artist

Honoré Daumier

French, 1808-1879

Meet Honoré Daumier
Not on View

Explore the Collection Further

BY SAME ARTIST
PRINTS, DRAWINGS & PHOTOGRAPHS
NADAR ELEVATING PHOTOGRAPHY TO ART
Honoré Daumier
Nadar Elevating Photography to Art
1862
THE ADOPTION. - WELL, REALLY! ROBERT, MY FRIEND, SO YOU ARE BECOMING A FAMILY MAN. YOU'RE CONSIDERING ADOPTION?... YOU WILL SOON CROWN THE MAIDENS AT THE VILLAGE FAIR... (ROBERT)- YES, I ADOPTED THIS CHILD. I WANT TO THRIVE IN THE JOYS OF FAMILY LIFE... (WORMSPIRE) - YOU WANT TO MARRY YOUR WARD... - YES, I WANT HER TO GET MARRIED. YES, GET HER MARRIED TO A RICH MAN, PREPARE FOR MY RETIREMENT. - PREPARE FOR YOUR RETIREMENT... GET ENOUGH MONEY
Honoré Daumier
The Adoption. - Well, really! Robert, my friend, so you are becoming a family man. You're considering adoption?... You will soon crown the maidens at the village fair... (Robert)- Yes, I adopted this child. I want to thrive in the joys of family life... (Wormspire) - You want to marry your ward... - Yes, I want her to get married. Yes, get her married to a rich man, prepare for my retirement. - Prepare for your retirement... get enough money for old age and win the Monthion prize... I know, I know!
1841
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
YES MY UNCLE, MY VIRTUOUS UNCLE, I WAS A SPENDTHRIFT, GAMBLER, SEDUCER, I HAD MANY FAULTS, IN A WORD I WAS FRIVOLOUS... BUT YOU'RE ILL, VERY ILL, THE DOCTORS HAVE ABANDONED YOU... I'VE COME TO AID YOU, TO FALL AT YOUR FEET, I'LL SWEAR... ANYTHING YOU LIKE... I'LL ONLY LEAVE YOU AT DEATH, MY KIND UNCLE, MY SO EXCELLENT UNCLE! LET'S EMBRACE AND PUT AN END TO IT. (MACAIRE, SOLE INHERITOR, HAS HIS DEAR UNCLE THROWN INTO A COMMON PIT).
Honoré Daumier
Yes my uncle, my virtuous uncle, I was a spendthrift, gambler, seducer, I had many faults, in a word I was frivolous... but you're ill, very ill, the doctors have abandoned you... I've come to aid you, to fall at your feet, I'll swear... anything you like... I'll only leave you at death, my kind uncle, my so excellent uncle! Let's embrace and put an end to it. (Macaire, sole inheritor, has his dear uncle thrown into a common pit).
1837
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
PREPARING FOR THE BACCALAUREATE. - THERE ARE TWO WAYS IN WHICH YOU MIGHT PASS YOUR EXAMS: THE FIRST WAY IS TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE YOUR PLACE; THE SECOND IS TO TAKE THEM YOURSELF. - I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEM MYSELF. - VERY GOOD!... DO YOU KNOW GREEK? - NO. - LATIN? - NONE THE MORE. - EXCELLENT!... DO YOU KNOW YOUR MATH? - NOT AT ALL. - WHAT DO YOU KNOW THEN? - NOTHING. - BUT YOU'VE 200 FRANCS? - OF COURSE! - SPLENDID... YOU'LL BE PASSED NEXT T
Honoré Daumier
Preparing for the baccalaureate. - There are two ways in which you might pass your exams: the first way is to let someone else take your place; the second is to take them yourself. - I would like to take them myself. - Very good!... Do you know Greek? - No. - Latin? - None the more. - Excellent!... Do you know your Math? - Not at all. - What do you know then? - Nothing. - But you've 200 francs? - Of course! - Splendid... You'll be passed next Thursday. - You mean you're going to prepare me in eight days? - What do you think!!!!... It's true that I've taken on the responsibility for your success, but for teaching you... Oh no! Certainly not!!
1837
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
ROBERT MACAIRE BEFORE HIS JUDGES. VERY WELL! YES, GENTLEMEN, I WAS RATHER UNFORTUNATE AT THE ASSIZE COURT... BUT MISFORTUNE IS ALWAYS RESPECTABLE!... MOREOVER, IT’S TRUE WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, I'VE A HABIT OF SUBTRACTING MONEY, IT'S EASIER TO EXCUSE ME THAN SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE IT'S HARDER FOR ME TO RESIST MY WEAKNESS... AS FOR THE REST, I AM ACCUSED OF SELLING LEAD FOR GOLD? TWENTY WITNESSES SWEAR TO IT. VERY WELL! I DENY IT FORTY TIMES AND SINCE T
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire before his judges. Very well! Yes, gentlemen, I was rather unfortunate at the Assize Court... but misfortune is always respectable!... moreover, it’s true what has been said, I've a habit of subtracting money, it's easier to excuse me than someone else because it's harder for me to resist my weakness... as for the rest, I am accused of selling lead for gold? Twenty witnesses swear to it. Very well! I deny it forty times and since two denials are worth an avowal it's clear that you cannot find me guilty. (after this brilliant improvisation Robert Macaire is condemned with a maximum sentence).
1837
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
A SCIENTIFIC CONSULTATION. - I AM SATISFIED.... I THINK THE POTATO DISEASE COMES FROM BOTRYTIS... - YES, THAT'S WHAT'S COMMONLY KNOWN AS A MUSHROOM (FUNGUS). - IF WE CALL IT A MUSHROOM LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, NO ONE WILL BOTHER CALLING US SCIENTISTS!
Honoré Daumier
A scientific consultation. - I am satisfied.... I think the potato disease comes from Botrytis... - Yes, that's what's commonly known as a mushroom (fungus). - If we call it a mushroom like the rest of the world, no one will bother calling us scientists!
1845