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Robert Macaire, Hypnotist. This is a perfect subject for hypnosis… There is absolutely no connection between us… I do not know Mademoiselle de St. Bertrand, and you gentlemen, are going to be able to experience the effect of somnambulism…. (In her sleep, Mlle de St. Bertrand gives diagnoses on everybody’s ailments, omdocates hidden underground treasures, gives investment advice conc. the Mozart Paper Co. stocks, in gold mines and in other fine investments.)
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire, Hypnotist. This is a perfect subject for hypnosis… There is absolutely no connection between us… I do not know Mademoiselle de St. Bertrand, and you gentlemen, are going to be able to experience the effect of somnambulism…. (In her sleep, Mlle de St. Bertrand gives diagnoses on everybody’s ailments, omdocates hidden underground treasures, gives investment advice conc. the Mozart Paper Co. stocks, in gold mines and in other fine investments.)

1838

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Robert Macaire, Hypnotist. This is a perfect subject for hypnosis… There is absolutely no connection between us… I do not know Mademoiselle de St. Bertrand, and you gentlemen, are going to be able to experience the effect of somnambulism…. (In her sleep, Mlle de St. Bertrand gives diagnoses on everybody’s ailments, omdocates hidden underground treasures, gives investment advice conc. the Mozart Paper Co. stocks, in gold mines and in other fine investments.)

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire, Hypnotist. This is a perfect subject for hypnosis… There is absolutely no connection between us… I do not know Mademoiselle de St. Bertrand, and you gentlemen, are going to be able to experience the effect of somnambulism…. (In her sleep, Mlle de St. Bertrand gives diagnoses on everybody’s ailments, omdocates hidden underground treasures, gives investment advice conc. the Mozart Paper Co. stocks, in gold mines and in other fine investments.)

Honoré Daumier

Robert Macaire, Hypnotist. This is a perfect subject for hypnosis… There is absolutely no connection between us… I do not know Mademoiselle de St. Bertrand, and you gentlemen, are going to be able to experience the effect of somnambulism…. (In her sleep, Mlle de St. Bertrand gives diagnoses on everybody’s ailments, omdocates hidden underground treasures, gives investment advice conc. the Mozart Paper Co. stocks, in gold mines and in other fine investments.)

1838

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 235 x 232 mm. (9 1/4 x 9 1/8 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 88 from the series "Caricaturana"
Credit Line Blanche Adler Memorial Fund
Object Number 1961.214

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 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
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
DOCTOR ROBERT MACAIRE'S CLINIC. - THERE YOU ARE GENTLEMEN, THE SURGERY I PERFORMED WAS A FULL SUCCESS, WHILE EVERYBODY CONSIDERED IT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE. - BUT DOCTOR, THE PATIENT IS DEAD! - SO WHAT... ..SHE WOULD HAVE DIED SOONER OR LATER ANYWAY.
Honoré Daumier
Doctor Robert Macaire's clinic. - There you are gentlemen, the surgery I performed was a full success, while everybody considered it to be impossible. - But doctor, the patient is dead! - So what... ..she would have died sooner or later anyway.
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 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
(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