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The Ladies’ Bath. Yes, my dear, it is just the way I have the honour of telling you. I was pregnant with him for eleven months and people thought I was dropsical. Would you believe that this is already six years ago? He takes after his father, drum-major of the 6th legion. Sings the Marseillaise (national anthem) by heart and has a drink in the morning like a real fire-fighter. Oh, my little darling, come here and give your mother a kiss!
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

The Ladies’ Bath. Yes, my dear, it is just the way I have the honour of telling you. I was pregnant with him for eleven months and people thought I was dropsical. Would you believe that this is already six years ago? He takes after his father, drum-major of the 6th legion. Sings the Marseillaise (national anthem) by heart and has a drink in the morning like a real fire-fighter. Oh, my little darling, come here and give your mother a kiss!

1841

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The Ladies’ Bath. Yes, my dear, it is just the way I have the honour of telling you. I was pregnant with him for eleven months and people thought I was dropsical. Would you believe that this is already six years ago? He takes after his father, drum-major of the 6th legion. Sings the Marseillaise (national anthem) by heart and has a drink in the morning like a real fire-fighter. Oh, my little darling, come here and give your mother a kiss!

Honoré Daumier

The Ladies’ Bath. Yes, my dear, it is just the way I have the honour of telling you. I was pregnant with him for eleven months and people thought I was dropsical. Would you believe that this is already six years ago? He takes after his father, drum-major of the 6th legion. Sings the Marseillaise (national anthem) by heart and has a drink in the morning like a real fire-fighter. Oh, my little darling, come here and give your mother a kiss!

Honoré Daumier

The Ladies’ Bath. Yes, my dear, it is just the way I have the honour of telling you. I was pregnant with him for eleven months and people thought I was dropsical. Would you believe that this is already six years ago? He takes after his father, drum-major of the 6th legion. Sings the Marseillaise (national anthem) by heart and has a drink in the morning like a real fire-fighter. Oh, my little darling, come here and give your mother a kiss!

1841

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 184 × 264 mm. (7 1/4 × 10 3/8 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 20 from the series "Les Baigneurs"
Credit Line Given in Memory of Joseph Katz by his Children
Object Number 1963.109.72

Artist

Honoré Daumier

French, 1808-1879

Meet Honoré Daumier
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BY SAME ARTIST
PRINTS, DRAWINGS & PHOTOGRAPHS
NADAR ELEVATING PHOTOGRAPHY TO ART
Honoré Daumier
Nadar Elevating Photography to Art
1862
ROBERT MACAIRE BOOKSELLER. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WOULD THERE BE ANYONE IN THIS PLEASANT PLACE WHO'D LIKE TO MAKE HIMSELF A NICE LITTLE INCOME, WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AND WITHOUT WORKING?... IF THERE IS SOMEONE HE SHOULD STOCK MY PRIMERS... YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A BOOKSELLER TO BE A SPECIALIST IN THIS TRADE, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO READ, QUITE THE CONTRARY!... YOU ONLY HAVE TO PAY ME A DEPOSIT... THE BIGGER THE BETTER, AS THE SAYING GOES.
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire bookseller. Ladies and gentlemen, would there be anyone in this pleasant place who'd like to make himself a nice little income, without difficulty and without working?... If there is someone he should stock my primers... You don't have to be a bookseller to be a specialist in this trade, you don't even have to know how to read, quite the contrary!... You only have to pay me a deposit... The bigger the better, as the saying goes.
1836
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
OH HERE YOU ARE, MY POOR DEAR! DARN IT, HOW HANDSOME YOU ARE! COME AND GIVE YOUR FATHER A KISS!
Honoré Daumier, Bauger, and others
Oh here you are, my poor dear! Darn it, how handsome you are! Come and give your father a kiss!
1840
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
MY DEAR FRIEND, WE HAVE LEARNED YESTERDAY AT THE THEATRE THAT A GENTLEMAN HAS INADVERTEDLY STEPPED ON YOUR FOOT.... WE HAVE COME TO GET HIS ADDRESS AND WE ARE EAGER TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE AFFAIR IS ARRANGED.... HE IS WAITING FOR YOU THIS MORNING IN THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE. YOU WILL RAISE PISTOLS AT A DISTANCE OF 15 PACES.
Honoré Daumier
My dear friend, we have learned yesterday at the theatre that a gentleman has inadvertedly stepped on your foot.... We have come to get his address and we are eager to announce that the affair is arranged.... He is waiting for you this morning in the Bois de Boulogne. You will raise pistols at a distance of 15 paces.
1845
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
MY DEAR FRIEND, YOU REALLY DON'T LOOK VERY WELL THIS MORNING. I AM NOT SPEAKING TO YOU AS A DOCTOR, BUT AS A FRIEND. I MUST INSIST IN TREATING YOU.... BETTER THAN I WOULD TREAT MYSELF. I AM GOING TO APPLY 30 LEECHES TO YOUR BELLY AND IF BY TOMORROW YOU HAVE NOT IMPROVED, I'LL APPLY ANOTHER SIXTY.
Honoré Daumier
My dear friend, you really don't look very well this morning. I am not speaking to you as a doctor, but as a friend. I must insist in treating you.... better than I would treat myself. I am going to apply 30 leeches to your belly and if by tomorrow you have not improved, I'll apply another sixty.
1845
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
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
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
ROBERT MACAIRE, BUSINESS AGENT. YESTERDAY I MADE A MISTAKE WHEN I SAID THAT YOUR BUSINESS IS IN GOOD SHAPE. IT'S DETESTABLE. THE GOVERNMENT OWES YOU FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND FRANCS, IT'S TRUE, BUT THE DEBT HASN'T BEEN RECOGNIZED, THERE'S A FORFEITURE TODAY, YOU WON'T HAVE A PENNY. HOWEVER, COME TO THINK OF IT, THERE'S MR. DE ST. BERTRAND, A RICH CAPITALIST, AN IMBECILE, SELL HIM YOUR INTERESTS FOR A HUNDRED CROWNS, THAT'LL BE A SPLENDID DEAL... (ASI
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It's detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it's true, but the debt hasn't been recognized, there's a forfeiture today, you won't have a penny. However, come to think of it, there's Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that'll be a splendid deal... (aside) and not expensive.
1836