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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!!
Public Domain

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

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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!!

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!!

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

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph with hand coloring, Sheet: 196 × 244 mm. (7 11/16 × 9 5/8 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 67 from the series "Caricaturana"
Credit Line Nelson and Juanita Greif Gutman Collection
Object Number 1963.313.37

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
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
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
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
EXPLOITING FRIENDSHIP. MY DEAR ALPHONSE, I'VE INVITED THESE GENTLEMEN, MY FRIENDS, TO DINE AT YOUR HOME. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO TASTE OUR CHAMPAGNE, WE'LL LAUGH... WAIT A MINUTE! I'VE AN IDEA. WHAT IF WE WENT TO THE WOOD? WE COULD TAKE YOUR BAROUCHE AND YOU COULD LEND US SOME CLOTHES AS WE ONLY CAME TO PAY A SIMPLE VISITE... IN THE MEANTIME, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE US SOME CARDS AND SOME NAPOLEONS TO PASS THE TIME. EH? MY GOOD ALPHONSE, DEAR CHAP. HOW A
Honoré Daumier
Exploiting friendship. My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?
1837
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
LION'S SHARE. CALM YOURSELVES, GENTLEMEN. WE'VE A HUNDRED LOUIS, EIGHTY OF THEM BELONG TO ME, EIGHTEEN TO MR. LE COMTE DE ST. BERTRAND, THAT LEAVES TWO FOR THE FIFTEEN OF YOU... IT'S STRANGE, THESE ETERNAL COMPLAINTS!! REALLY, IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE SUCH A MISTAKE!... WHAT THE DEVIL, GENTLEMEN, WE'RE ALL HONEST MEN, SORT THINGS OUT BETWEEN YOURSELVES, SHARE THE TWO LOUIS BETWEEN YOU, LET’S NOT MAKE A SCANDAL!
Honoré Daumier
Lion's share. Calm yourselves, gentlemen. We've a hundred louis, eighty of them belong to me, eighteen to Mr. Le Comte de St. Bertrand, that leaves two for the fifteen of you... It's strange, these eternal complaints!! Really, it's just not possible to make such a mistake!... What the devil, gentlemen, we're all honest men, sort things out between yourselves, share the two louis between you, let’s not make a scandal!
1837
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
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