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The husband (reading aloud): “We lay indolently on the fragrant moss, while the beams of the moon flickered through the branches of a willow, gently swaying in the evening breeze. Overcome with love we cried to to heaven the longings we felt in our hearts.” His wife (sotto voce): how can he possibly read such poetry and wear a night bonnet and a face like this.
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

The husband (reading aloud): “We lay indolently on the fragrant moss, while the beams of the moon flickered through the branches of a willow, gently swaying in the evening breeze. Overcome with love we cried to to heaven the longings we felt in our hearts.” His wife (sotto voce): how can he possibly read such poetry and wear a night bonnet and a face like this.

1839

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The husband (reading aloud): “We lay indolently on the fragrant moss, while the beams of the moon flickered through the branches of a willow, gently swaying in the evening breeze. Overcome with love we cried to to heaven the longings we felt in our hearts.” His wife (sotto voce): how can he possibly read such poetry and wear a night bonnet and a face like this.

Honoré Daumier

The husband (reading aloud): “We lay indolently on the fragrant moss, while the beams of the moon flickered through the branches of a willow, gently swaying in the evening breeze. Overcome with love we cried to to heaven the longings we felt in our hearts.” His wife (sotto voce): how can he possibly read such poetry and wear a night bonnet and a face like this.

Honoré Daumier

The husband (reading aloud): “We lay indolently on the fragrant moss, while the beams of the moon flickered through the branches of a willow, gently swaying in the evening breeze. Overcome with love we cried to to heaven the longings we felt in our hearts.” His wife (sotto voce): how can he possibly read such poetry and wear a night bonnet and a face like this.

1839

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 229 x 279 mm. (9 x 11 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 11 from the series "Mouers Conjugales"
Credit Line Board of Trustees Fund
Object Number 1961.244

Artist

Honoré Daumier

French, 1808-1879

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BY SAME ARTIST
PRINTS, DRAWINGS & PHOTOGRAPHS
NADAR ELEVATING PHOTOGRAPHY TO ART
Honoré Daumier
Nadar Elevating Photography to Art
1862
HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY BE AS THIN AS THIS? MY DEAR FRIEND, YOU SHOULD NEVER COME TO THE SWIMMING POOL WITHOUT WEARING LONG COTTON PANTS. - AND YOU, MY FRIEND, DON'T EVER SHOW YOURSELF TO THE WORLD IN THIS COSTUME WITHOUT HAVING UPHOLSTERED YOURSELF BEFORE.... I CAN GIVE YOU THE ADDRESS OF MY UPHOLSTERER.
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
How can you possibly be as thin as this? My dear friend, you should never come to the swimming pool without wearing long cotton pants. - And you, my friend, don't ever show yourself to the world in this costume without having upholstered yourself before.... I can give you the address of my upholsterer.
1864
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
EXPLOITATION OF LOVE. OH! MY DARLING. I CANNOT SAY HOW MUCH I ADMIRE, HOW MUCH I CARESS THE CHARMING PORTRAIT WHICH YOU SENT ME! YOU EVEN HAD IT EMBELLISHED WITH PRECIOUS STONES. WHAT FOLLY!! YOU MUSTN'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT. IT GRIEVES ME... AND THIS WATCH CHAIN. HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS! HOW RICHLY DECORATED!!... I'D LIKE TO OFFER YOU A NICE PRESENT IN RETURN, SOMETHING TO REMIND YOU OF OUR LOVE AND HAPPINESS... I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LOCK OF MY HAIR
Honoré Daumier
Exploitation of love. Oh! My darling. I cannot say how much I admire, how much I caress the charming portrait which you sent me! You even had it embellished with precious stones. What folly!! You mustn't do things like that. It grieves me... And this watch chain. How beautiful it is! How richly decorated!!... I'd like to offer you a nice present in return, something to remind you of our love and happiness... I'd like to give you a lock of my hair...
1837
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
THE CHEVALIER DES ADRETS IS THE LOVER OF A WOMAN OF THE WORLD. HE IS AMIABLE AND FERVENT, HE PRETENDS TO BE PASSIONATE AND DEVOTED... ONE DAY, AN ALLEGED BAILIFF AND AN ALLEGED BILL OF EXCHANGE FALL LIKE A CLAP OF THUNDER INTO THE MIDST OF THE MOST TENDER EFFUSION OF FEELING... "OH! MY GOD!! THE BARON DE WORMSPIRE, A SO-CALLED FRIEND, HAS HAD THE IMPUDENCE TO HAVE ME THROWN INTO PRISON... HE'S RUINED MY GOOD FORTUNE, SEPARATED ME FROM WHAT I LOVE
Honoré Daumier
The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.
1838
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
A CLASSICAL POET COMPOSING AN ECLOGUE ABOUT THE QUIET PASTORAL LIFE... "AND THESE WRETCHED JOURNALISTS WILL SAY THAT MY STYLE IS VAGUE. HOW ON EARTH CAN YOU BE CLEAR WITH SUCH COLLABORATORS?!"
Honoré Daumier
A classical poet composing an eclogue about the quiet pastoral life... "and these wretched journalists will say that my style is vague. How on earth can you be clear with such collaborators?!"
1840
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
VARIOUS NEWS. "THE RUE DE LA LUNE HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED WITH GAS LIGHT." CORRECTION: IN OUR LAST EDITION INSTEAD OF "THE MAYOR HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO TWINS" IT SHOULD READ: "HE HAS RETURNED INTO TOWN." WE ARE BEING INFORMED FROM DIJON: "THE LATEST FROST HAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE MUSTARD SEEDS; THIS WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE PRICE INCREASES FOR MOUTARDE DE DIJON." - WE INFORM OUR READERS OF A NEW KIND OF ACTIVITY: CUNNING SWINDLERS ARE
Honoré Daumier
Various news. "The Rue de la Lune has been illuminated with gas light." Correction: In our last edition instead of "The mayor has given birth to twins" it should read: "He has returned into town." We are being informed from Dijon: "The latest frost has completely destroyed the mustard seeds; this will most likely result in considerable price increases for Moutarde de Dijon." - We inform our readers of a new kind of activity: cunning swindlers are getting information about the addresses of regular patrons of coffee houses. While the clients are reading the newspapers, the thieves will pillage to their home.
1842
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
IF YOU ONLY KNEW HOW PRETTY YOU ARE!... PRETEND YOU ARE PLAYING! - STOP IT.. DO - YOU DON'T LOVE ME!...SO - I'LL' ALWAYS BE YOURS. ... MI
Honoré Daumier
If you only knew how pretty you are!... Pretend you are playing! - stop it.. DO - You don't love me!...SO - I'll' always be yours. ... MI
1841