Nadar Elevating Photography to Art

To imagine that next year I will be exhibited and that everybody in Paris will see me...it is kind of flattering, isn't it dear!...

Un Guichet de théatre.

You must admit that it is a bit boring, Monsieur Loustalot, to stand like this all day with your arms up like that holding the signal-flag?... - You are telling me!.. and I'm so stuffed up with a cold! I needed to blow my nose for the past 45 minutes..... but I don't dare .... it might endanger the safety of the train.... I'll ask the next passenger who happens to pass by to do me this favour.

Croquade Divers

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

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

Robert Macaire business agent. - By the devil! It's really admirable of you to break your back to pay off your debts, my good chap, wipe them out at once! - But how? - Good heavens! Bring me your books, I'll put them in order, it's my specialty, we'll settle for a few liabilities, a large number of assets, we'll assemble your creditors, we'll offer five percent to be paid over ten years, you won't give them anything during the ten years, in ten years' time you'll start again, your creditors will be dead, the debts forgotten and nobody will say a word about it.

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

When one's portrait is exhibited at the Salon. - It's flattering, isn't it Eudoxie, to be shown like this in public, and I don't regret the 200 francs it has cost us... there is a man looking at us... he seems to think highly of us! - (The art student): How can anybody have the nerve to sit for a portrait with a face like that!

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

The Comedians from the Province. - Can you imagine, my dear, these barbarians were hissing during my performance in "Cinna"; and you have seen me in "Cinna". - Yes, I flatter myself having seen you, but you must understand that these provincials are utter simpletons. Once you have your debut at the Theatre Français, you'll be seeing Mr. J.J. who will pamper you, you'll be asking 100'000 francs annual salary, and they'll applaud you... how can you possibly succeed with 1'500 francs at the Beauvais... you fool!