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Security Chain Dealer. The coupling chain is named after the way its used by an unsuspecting victim, who wears it, thus signaling that he is in the possession of a watch. The cronies stationed in the neighborhood are not dallying to put the information to profit. This way Bertrand has sold the chain and Macaire gets the watch.
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

Security Chain Dealer. The coupling chain is named after the way its used by an unsuspecting victim, who wears it, thus signaling that he is in the possession of a watch. The cronies stationed in the neighborhood are not dallying to put the information to profit. This way Bertrand has sold the chain and Macaire gets the watch.

1840

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Security Chain Dealer. The coupling chain is named after the way its used by an unsuspecting victim, who wears it, thus signaling that he is in the possession of a watch. The cronies stationed in the neighborhood are not dallying to put the information to profit. This way Bertrand has sold the chain and Macaire gets the watch.

Honoré Daumier

Security Chain Dealer. The coupling chain is named after the way its used by an unsuspecting victim, who wears it, thus signaling that he is in the possession of a watch. The cronies stationed in the neighborhood are not dallying to put the information to profit. This way Bertrand has sold the chain and Macaire gets the watch.

Honoré Daumier

Security Chain Dealer. The coupling chain is named after the way its used by an unsuspecting victim, who wears it, thus signaling that he is in the possession of a watch. The cronies stationed in the neighborhood are not dallying to put the information to profit. This way Bertrand has sold the chain and Macaire gets the watch.

1840

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 238 x 184 mm. (9 3/8 x 7 1/4 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 1 from the series "Bohémiens de Paris"
Credit Line Blanche Adler Memorial Fund
Object Number 1962.132

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 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
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
A GOOD HUSBAND. - A TOTAL OF 27 FR. 50 CTS. - VERY GOOD. TAKE THE BILL TO MY WIFE WHO'LL PAY YOU... - (THIS RIGHT BEGGAR MACAIRE ISN'T HALF CONTENT TO HAVE A WIFE TO PAY HIS DEBTS!)... - YES, I'VE AN EXCELLENT WIFE WHO WORKS LIKE A SLAVE, DEPRIVES HERSELF OF EVERYTHING, WHO SACRIFICES HER LIFE FOR ME... A WIFE WHO ADORES ME. BUT I'M NOT UNGRATEFUL. SHE ALREADY HAS EIGHT CHILDREN AND I'D LIKE HER TO HAVE TWELVE... - (BERTRAND) THERE'S A HAPPY WOMA
Honoré Daumier
A good husband. - A total of 27 Fr. 50 Cts. - Very good. Take the bill to my wife who'll pay you... - (this right beggar Macaire isn't half content to have a wife to pay his debts!)... - Yes, I've an excellent wife who works like a slave, deprives herself of everything, who sacrifices her life for me... a wife who adores me. But I'm not ungrateful. She already has eight children and I'd like her to have twelve... - (Bertrand) There's a happy woman!!!
1837
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
STOCKBROKER AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY. NOTE DOWN: BOUGHT 10,000 FR. WORTH OF GOVERNMENT BONDS AT 5% FOR MR. TRIPOT, AT 106 FR. 90 CTS... OH, WELL, HE'S A GOOD LAD, PUT DOWN 80 CENTIMES... BOUGHT 15,000 FR. WORTH AT 5% FOR MR. MOUTONNET, AT... HE'S A BEAST WHO'S ALWAYS COMPLAINING, PUT DOWN 95 CENTIMES, THAT'LL TEACH HIM TO DOUBT MY INTEGRITY!
Honoré Daumier
Stockbroker at the close of the day. Note down: Bought 10,000 Fr. worth of government bonds at 5% for Mr. Tripot, at 106 Fr. 90 Cts... Oh, well, he's a good lad, put down 80 centimes... Bought 15,000 Fr. worth at 5% for Mr. Moutonnet, at... He's a beast who's always complaining, put down 95 centimes, that'll teach him to doubt my integrity!
1837-1838
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
THERE'S NO DOUBT, MONSIEUR RIFLOT, THE LAW OF PETITION IS SACRED, BUT IT IS BEING ABUSED. LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE WE JUST DISCUSSED: THEY WANT TO TAX BACHELORS, SINCE THEY ARE USELESS FOR SOCIETY. I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE MARRIED PEOPLE.... I MUST ALSO SAY THAT I KNOW OF NO-ONE WHO HAS DONE AS MUCH FOR SOCIETY, AS I, COQUELET DID.
Honoré Daumier
There's no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people.... I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.
1839
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, BARRISTER. - MY DEAR BERTRAND, GIVE ME A HUNDRED CROWNS AND I'LL GET YOU ACQUITTED RIGHT AWAY. - I'VE NO MONEY. - ALL RIGHT, GIVE ME A HUNDRED FRANCS. - I HAVEN'T GOT A PENNY. - YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TEN FRANCS? - NOT A FARTHING. - THEN GIVE ME YOUR BOOTS, AND I'LL PLEAD EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, barrister. - My dear Bertrand, give me a hundred crowns and I'll get you acquitted right away. - I've no money. - All right, give me a hundred francs. - I haven't got a penny. - You don't even have ten francs? - Not a farthing. - Then give me your boots, and I'll plead extenuating circumstances.
1836
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
THIS IS A SO CALLED MERCHANT, VICTIM OF HIS VICTIMS, CRAZY, SQUANDERER AND INTRIGUING. HE PAYS 1% TO HIS CREDITORS FOR 10 YEARS, FORGETS ABOUT THE PAST, DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE, STRUTS ABOUT THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE WITH HIS YELLOW GLOVES, STROLLS ALONG THE BOULEVARD DES ITALIENS AND THEATRE LOBBIES. HE TALKS OF HONOUR AND DECENCY AND CALLS HIS CREDITORS THIEVES. HE LOVES THE POSE OF THE POLITICAL, INDUSTRIAL AND MORAL VICTIM AND SPLASHES THE
Honoré Daumier
This is a so called merchant, victim of his victims, crazy, squanderer and intriguing. He pays 1% to his creditors for 10 years, forgets about the past, does not care about the future, struts about the Bois de Boulogne with his yellow gloves, strolls along the boulevard des Italiens and theatre lobbies. He talks of honour and decency and calls his creditors thieves. He loves the pose of the political, industrial and moral victim and splashes the whole world.
1840