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It won’t be as easy as that, Monsieur! You perpetrated the infamy to ask for the money that I owe you…. You oblige me to admit that I cannot pay you. You humiliate me. I demand compensation, Monsieur!
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

It won’t be as easy as that, Monsieur! You perpetrated the infamy to ask for the money that I owe you…. You oblige me to admit that I cannot pay you. You humiliate me. I demand compensation, Monsieur!

1837

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It won’t be as easy as that, Monsieur! You perpetrated the infamy to ask for the money that I owe you…. You oblige me to admit that I cannot pay you. You humiliate me. I demand compensation, Monsieur!

Honoré Daumier

It won’t be as easy as that, Monsieur! You perpetrated the infamy to ask for the money that I owe you…. You oblige me to admit that I cannot pay you. You humiliate me. I demand compensation, Monsieur!

Honoré Daumier

It won’t be as easy as that, Monsieur! You perpetrated the infamy to ask for the money that I owe you…. You oblige me to admit that I cannot pay you. You humiliate me. I demand compensation, Monsieur!

1837

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph with hand coloring, Sheet: 236 × 228 mm. (9 5/16 × 9 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 54 from the series "Caricaturana"
Credit Line Given in Memory of Joseph Katz by his Children
Object Number 1963.109.26

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
TO IMAGINE THAT NEXT YEAR I WILL BE EXHIBITED AND THAT EVERYBODY IN PARIS WILL SEE ME... ITS IS KIND OF FLATTERING, ISN'T IT DEAR? - I'M JUST UNHAPPY THAT YOU WON'T BE WEARING YOUR NECK-TIE... IT LOOKS A BIT SLOPPY... IF THERE IS STILL SOME TIME, WHY DON'T YOU ASK THE SCULPTOR TO ADD ON YOUR STAND-UP COLLAR.
Honoré Daumier
To imagine that next year I will be exhibited and that everybody in Paris will see me... its is kind of flattering, isn't it Dear? - I'm just unhappy that you won't be wearing your neck-tie... it looks a bit sloppy... if there is still some time, why don't you ask the sculptor to add on your stand-up collar.
1859
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
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.
Honoré Daumier
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.
1843
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
TROUVÉ-CHAUVEL. STRICT GUARDIAN OF THE REPUBLIC'S FINANCES, CITIZEN TROUVÉ-CHAUVEL NEVER SEPARATES HIMSELF FROM THE TREASURE, EVEN WHEN HE GOES TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. IT IS TRUE THAT IT IS VERY EASY FOR HIM TO CARRY IT OVER HIS SHOULDER. THIS MINISTER HAS AN OBSESSION, WHICH IS MAKING HIM QUITE UNHAPPY; HE WANTS TO BALANCE REVENUE WITH EXPENDITURE, BUT HE CANNOT FIND THE MEANS TO THIS END.... ALSO, HE DOESN'T LIKE PEOPLE SAYING TO HIM: - HAVE
Honoré Daumier
Trouvé-Chauvel. Strict guardian of the Republic's finances, citizen Trouvé-Chauvel never separates himself from the treasure, even when he goes to the National Assembly. It is true that it is very easy for him to carry it over his shoulder. This minister has an obsession, which is making him quite unhappy; he wants to balance revenue with expenditure, but he cannot find the means to this end.... also, he doesn't like people saying to him: - have you found it, Chauvel?....
1848
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 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
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, DOCTOR. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DO NOT TAKE THIS ILLNESS LIGHTLY! BELIEVE ME, YOU MUST DRINK A LOT OF WATER, RUB YOUR LEGS AND COME TO SEE ME OFTEN... IT WON'T RUIN YOU.... MY CONSULTATIONS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.... YOU JUST PAY ME 20 FRANCS FOR THE TWO BOTTLES. FOR 10 CENTS I WILL TAKE THE CONTAINER BACK.
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, doctor. For heaven's sake, do not take this illness lightly! Believe me, you must drink a lot of water, rub your legs and come to see me often... it won't ruin you.... My consultations are free of charge.... You just pay me 20 Francs for the two bottles. For 10 cents I will take the container back.
1836
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
HERE IS YOUR ACCOUNT: I OWED YOU 150'000 FRANCS; I ALREADY HAVE GIVEN YOU A DOWNPAYMENT OF 100 FRANCS, PLUS ANOTHER 50 FRANCS LATER, WHICH MAKES THE TOTAL 150 FRANCS. I NOW GIVE YOU ANOTHER 1'000 FRANCS, WHICH BRINGS THE TOTAL TO 150'000. PLEASE BE SO KIND TO SIGN THAT WE ARE EVEN NOW.
Honoré Daumier
Here is your account: I owed you 150'000 Francs; I already have given you a downpayment of 100 Francs, plus another 50 Francs later, which makes the total 150 Francs. I now give you another 1'000 Francs, which brings the total to 150'000. Please be so kind to sign that we are even now.
1843