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Robert Macaire bookseller. Ladies and gentlemen, would there be anyone in this pleasant place who’d like to make himself a nice little income, without difficulty and without working?… If there is someone he should stock my primers… You don’t have to be a bookseller to be a specialist in this trade, you don’t even have to know how to read, quite the contrary!… You only have to pay me a deposit… The bigger the better, as the saying goes.
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire bookseller. Ladies and gentlemen, would there be anyone in this pleasant place who’d like to make himself a nice little income, without difficulty and without working?… If there is someone he should stock my primers… You don’t have to be a bookseller to be a specialist in this trade, you don’t even have to know how to read, quite the contrary!… You only have to pay me a deposit… The bigger the better, as the saying goes.

1836

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Robert Macaire bookseller. Ladies and gentlemen, would there be anyone in this pleasant place who’d like to make himself a nice little income, without difficulty and without working?… If there is someone he should stock my primers… You don’t have to be a bookseller to be a specialist in this trade, you don’t even have to know how to read, quite the contrary!… You only have to pay me a deposit… The bigger the better, as the saying goes.

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire bookseller. Ladies and gentlemen, would there be anyone in this pleasant place who’d like to make himself a nice little income, without difficulty and without working?… If there is someone he should stock my primers… You don’t have to be a bookseller to be a specialist in this trade, you don’t even have to know how to read, quite the contrary!… You only have to pay me a deposit… The bigger the better, as the saying goes.

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire bookseller. Ladies and gentlemen, would there be anyone in this pleasant place who’d like to make himself a nice little income, without difficulty and without working?… If there is someone he should stock my primers… You don’t have to be a bookseller to be a specialist in this trade, you don’t even have to know how to read, quite the contrary!… You only have to pay me a deposit… The bigger the better, as the saying goes.

1836

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph with hand coloring, Sheet: 254 × 209 mm. (10 × 8 1/4 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 14 from the series "Caricaturana"
Credit Line Given in Memory of Joseph Katz by his Children
Object Number 1963.109.16

Artist

Honoré Daumier

French, 1808-1879

Meet Honoré Daumier
Not on View

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BY SAME ARTIST
PRINTS, DRAWINGS & PHOTOGRAPHS
NADAR ELEVATING PHOTOGRAPHY TO ART
Honoré Daumier
Nadar Elevating Photography to Art
1862
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
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
THE LADIES' BATH. YES, MY DEAR, IT IS JUST THE WAY I HAVE THE HONOUR OF TELLING YOU. I WAS PREGNANT WITH HIM FOR ELEVEN MONTHS AND PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS DROPSICAL. WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ALREADY SIX YEARS AGO? HE TAKES AFTER HIS FATHER, DRUM-MAJOR OF THE 6TH LEGION. SINGS THE MARSEILLAISE (NATIONAL ANTHEM) BY HEART AND HAS A DRINK IN THE MORNING LIKE A REAL FIRE-FIGHTER. OH, MY LITTLE DARLING, COME HERE AND GIVE YOUR MOTHER A KISS!
Honoré Daumier
The Ladies' Bath. Yes, my dear, it is just the way I have the honour of telling you. I was pregnant with him for eleven months and people thought I was dropsical. Would you believe that this is already six years ago? He takes after his father, drum-major of the 6th legion. Sings the Marseillaise (national anthem) by heart and has a drink in the morning like a real fire-fighter. Oh, my little darling, come here and give your mother a kiss!
1841
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
CONSCRIPT REPLACEMENT AGENCY. -THERE'S MERCHANDISE AN' MERCHANDISE! YOU WAN' A COMMON REPLACEMENT, THAT'LL COST YER ONLY 800 F., BUT I WARN YER, THEY'RE ALL SWINDLERS, CROOKS WHO DON'T STAY WITH THEIR REGIMENT, WHO SKEDADDLE AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY AND WHO 'AVE TER BE RETRIEVED.... WOULD YER LIKE TER MAKE IT 1'500 F., TAKE THAT SPECIMENT, IT AIN'T HANDSOME BUT IT'S OF GOOD COMPOSITION AND IT'S GOT PAPERS... AS MANY AS YER LIKE AN' IT DON'T FLINC
Honoré Daumier
Conscript replacement agency. -There's merchandise an' merchandise! You wan' a common replacement, that'll cost yer only 800 F., but I warn yer, they're all swindlers, crooks who don't stay with their regiment, who skedaddle at the first opportunity and who 'ave ter be retrieved.... Would yer like ter make it 1'500 F., take that speciment, it ain't handsome but it's of good composition and it's got papers... As many as yer like an' it don't flinch from six years' service. - Bertrand (aside): You c'n count on it, civilian!"
1837
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
(BERTRAND): WHAT IF THEY DECIDE TO ROUGH US UP A BIT, THOSE DIE-HUNGERS?... - (ROBERT MACAIRE): WHAT, THE RIFF-RAFF?... YOU DON'T KNOW THEM, THE THINGS SHOUT, HOWL AFTER THE RICH LIKE DOGS AFTER BEGGARS, BUT THEY DON'T BITE... THEY'RE HARMLESS, JUST STUPID, THAT'S ALL... (HE CRIES OUT IN A LOUD VOICE)... HEEE... HOOO, GO TO IT, DOTARDS. (THE PEOPLE NOTICE WITH EMOTION THAT HE DOESN'T CRUSH ANYONE AND THAT HE SEEMS A RATHER GOOD BLOKE).
Honoré Daumier
(Bertrand): What if they decide to rough us up a bit, those die-hungers?... - (Robert Macaire): What, the riff-raff?... You don't know them, the things shout, howl after the rich like dogs after beggars, but they don't bite... they're harmless, just stupid, that's all... (he cries out in a loud voice)... Heee... Hooo, go to it, Dotards. (The people notice with emotion that he doesn't crush anyone and that he seems a rather good bloke).
1838
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