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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.
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

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.

1837

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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.

Honoré Daumier

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.

Honoré Daumier

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.

1837

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph with hand coloring, Sheet: 243 × 219 mm. (9 9/16 × 8 5/8 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 39 from the series "Caricaturana"
Credit Line Given in Memory of Joseph Katz by his Children
Object Number 1963.109.22

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
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
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
ROBERT MACAIRE, BUSINESS AGENT. YESTERDAY I MADE A MISTAKE WHEN I SAID THAT YOUR BUSINESS IS IN GOOD SHAPE. IT'S DETESTABLE. THE GOVERNMENT OWES YOU FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND FRANCS, IT'S TRUE, BUT THE DEBT HASN'T BEEN RECOGNIZED, THERE'S A FORFEITURE TODAY, YOU WON'T HAVE A PENNY. HOWEVER, COME TO THINK OF IT, THERE'S MR. DE ST. BERTRAND, A RICH CAPITALIST, AN IMBECILE, SELL HIM YOUR INTERESTS FOR A HUNDRED CROWNS, THAT'LL BE A SPLENDID DEAL... (ASI
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, business agent. Yesterday I made a mistake when I said that your business is in good shape. It's detestable. The government owes you five hundred thousand francs, it's true, but the debt hasn't been recognized, there's a forfeiture today, you won't have a penny. However, come to think of it, there's Mr. de St. Bertrand, a rich capitalist, an imbecile, sell him your interests for a hundred crowns, that'll be a splendid deal... (aside) and not expensive.
1836
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
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
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, SOLLICITOR. - WE'VE WON, MY DEAR FELLOW, WON ON EVERY COUNT! - AND ABOUT TIME TOO. A CASE WHICH HAS LASTED TEN YEARS AND HAS RUINED ME! - BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! - HOW MUCH DID I GET BACK IN THE END? - HERE YOU ARE: THE COURT AWARDED YOU 12'000 FR, WE TOTALLED 13'500 FR IN EXPENSES, YOU ONLY OWE ME 1'500 FR. - BUT THAT MEANS I LOSE 1'500 FR . - YES, BUT YOU'VE WON YOUR CASE.
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, sollicitor. - We've won, my dear fellow, won on every count! - And about time too. A case which has lasted ten years and has ruined me! - Better late than never! - How much did I get back in the end? - Here you are: The court awarded you 12'000 Fr, we totalled 13'500 Fr in expenses, you only owe me 1'500 Fr. - But that means I lose 1'500 Fr . - Yes, but you've won your case.
1836
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.
ROBERT MACAIRE, PROFESSOR OF INDUSTRY. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE. BUY A NEW PROCESS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH, OR WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, BUY IT FOR 600F, 500F, 25F, FOR AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. CREATE 500'000F WORTH OF SHARES, AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. MAKE OUT MONSTER ADVERTISEMENTS, MONSTER POSTERS, MONSTER PROMISES. MAKE THE CAPITAL, POCKET IT, PUT THE KEY UNDER THE DOOR, FILE YOUR BANKRUPTCY PAPERS, THAT'S TO SAY THE COMPANY'S PAPERS... THAT'S THE END OF
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire, Professor of Industry. Here's an example. Buy a new process, it doesn't matter which, or whether it's good or bad, buy it for 600F, 500F, 25F, for as little as possible. Create 500'000F worth of shares, as many as possible. Make out monster advertisements, monster posters, monster promises. Make the capital, pocket it, put the key under the door, file your bankruptcy papers, that's to say the company's papers... that's the end of that little game. You then go on to another.
1837