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Conscript replacement agency. -There’s merchandise an’ merchandise! You wan’ a common replacement, that’ll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they’re all swindlers, crooks who don’t stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who ‘ave ter be retrieved…. Would yer like ter make it 1’500 F., take that speciment, it ain’t handsome but it’s of good composition and it’s got papers… As many as yer like an’ it don’t flinch from six years’ service. – Bertrand (aside): You c’n count on it, civilian!”
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

Conscript replacement agency. -There’s merchandise an’ merchandise! You wan’ a common replacement, that’ll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they’re all swindlers, crooks who don’t stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who ‘ave ter be retrieved…. Would yer like ter make it 1’500 F., take that speciment, it ain’t handsome but it’s of good composition and it’s got papers… As many as yer like an’ it don’t flinch from six years’ service. – Bertrand (aside): You c’n count on it, civilian!”

1837

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Conscript replacement agency. -There’s merchandise an’ merchandise! You wan’ a common replacement, that’ll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they’re all swindlers, crooks who don’t stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who ‘ave ter be retrieved…. Would yer like ter make it 1’500 F., take that speciment, it ain’t handsome but it’s of good composition and it’s got papers… As many as yer like an’ it don’t flinch from six years’ service. – Bertrand (aside): You c’n count on it, civilian!”

Honoré Daumier

Conscript replacement agency. -There’s merchandise an’ merchandise! You wan’ a common replacement, that’ll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they’re all swindlers, crooks who don’t stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who ‘ave ter be retrieved…. Would yer like ter make it 1’500 F., take that speciment, it ain’t handsome but it’s of good composition and it’s got papers… As many as yer like an’ it don’t flinch from six years’ service. – Bertrand (aside): You c’n count on it, civilian!”

Honoré Daumier

Conscript replacement agency. -There’s merchandise an’ merchandise! You wan’ a common replacement, that’ll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they’re all swindlers, crooks who don’t stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who ‘ave ter be retrieved…. Would yer like ter make it 1’500 F., take that speciment, it ain’t handsome but it’s of good composition and it’s got papers… As many as yer like an’ it don’t flinch from six years’ service. – Bertrand (aside): You c’n count on it, civilian!”

1837

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph with hand coloring, Sheet: 229 × 224 mm. (9 × 8 13/16 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 28 from the series "Caricaturana"
Credit Line Given in Memory of Joseph Katz by his Children
Object Number 1963.109.21

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
THE OTHER DAY, I PULLED OFF ANOTHER SMART TRICK... I HAD SET UP A FIRM WITH A CAPITAL OF TEN MILLION FRANCS TO EXPLOIT TOP BOOTS IN CARDBOARD ... I HAD PLACED ONLY EIGHT SHARES WORTH A PETTY 1200 FRANCS... I CALLED TOGETHER MY EIGHT SHAREHOLDERS AND HELD FORTH IN SOMETHING LIKE THE FOLLOWING MANNER: "AH! GOOD-DAY YE STROLLING GENTLEMEN, HOW HANDSOME YOU ARE, HOW FINE YOU SEEM!" I PROMISED THEM MORE CHEESE THAN BREAD, I GAVE THEM A 50% DIVIDEND, I
Honoré Daumier
The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r
1838
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
LET'S BE QUITE CLEAR. - BERTRAND IS GOING TO SNEAK IN AND OUT OF THE GROUPS AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE AND POLISH UP THE TARRED BITUMEN SHARES, HE'LL MAKE THEM SPARKLE, HE'LL SAY THEY'RE BEING SNAPPED UP, SNATCHED UP ALL ROUND, THAT THEY'RE RISING LIKE BALLOONS... AS FOR YOU, BARON, YOU HAVE A CERTAIN 'SAVOIR FAIRE', GO AND BUY SOME FOR 20%, 30%, EVEN 100% MORE. I'VE GOT THE WHOLE LOT IN MY WALLET, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DELIVER ANY, WE'LL SELL THEM FO
Honoré Daumier
Let's be quite clear. - Bertrand is going to sneak in and out of the groups at the stock exchange and polish up the tarred bitumen shares, he'll make them sparkle, he'll say they're being snapped up, snatched up all round, that they're rising like balloons... As for you, Baron, you have a certain 'savoir faire', go and buy some for 20%, 30%, even 100% more. I've got the whole lot in my wallet, they won't be able to deliver any, we'll sell them for what we like and providence will do the rest. - (Bertrand) Forward march against the dupes, let's cash in... fly... etc.
1838
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
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
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, 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
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
n.d.
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