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There’s no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people…. I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

There’s no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people…. I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.

1839

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There’s no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people…. I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.

Honoré Daumier

There’s no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people…. I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.

Honoré Daumier

There’s no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people…. I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.

1839

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 252 × 200 mm. (9 15/16 × 7 7/8 in.)
Portfolio/Series Plate 6 from the series "La Journée du Célibataire"
Credit Line Nelson and Juanita Greif Gutman Collection
Object Number 1963.313.66

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
DAMNED LANDLORD!... YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL MY TROUBLES. IT WAS YOU WHO INSISTED TO BE PORTRAYED BY ME TO COVER THE OUTSTANDING RENT.... NOW THE JURY HAS REJECTED MY PAINTINGS SAYING THEY WERE JUST TOO UGLY! I AM SURE IT WASN'T MY WORK THEY FOUND TO BE HORRIBLE.... IT WAS YOUR FACE!
Honoré Daumier
Damned landlord!... You are the source of all my troubles. It was you who insisted to be portrayed by me to cover the outstanding rent.... now the jury has rejected my paintings saying they were just too ugly! I am sure it wasn't my work they found to be horrible.... it was your face!
1859
UN GUICHET DE THÉATRE.
Charles Maurand and Honoré Daumier
Un Guichet de théatre.
1862
LHERBETTE. DEPUTY SINCE AGES AND ONE OF THE FEW LUCKY ONES WHO CAN RELY ON BEING REELECTED ON THE 13TH OF MAY. HE JUST SUCCEEDS WITH EVERYTHING. ONLY HIS NAME IS NOT TO HIS TASTE. HE IS ALSO TRYING TO GIVE HIMSELF A DISTINCT AIR.
Honoré Daumier
Lherbette. Deputy since ages and one of the few lucky ones who can rely on being reelected on the 13th of May. He just succeeds with everything. Only his name is not to his taste. He is also trying to give himself a distinct air.
1849
CROQUADE DIVERS
Unknown Artist and Honoré Daumier
Croquade Divers
1840
A VISIT TO THE LIBRARY. - LISTEN WOMAN... THEY HAVE TOLD US NOT TO DISTURB THE PEOPLE SITTING HERE, BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING. - WHAT DO YOU MEAN WORKING... THEY ARE JUST FEIGNING TO BE WORKING... IN REALITY THEY AREN'T MOVING AT ALL! --- VISITORS FROM THE PROVINCE WHO INSIST ON OVERLOOKING PARIS FROM THE TOP OF THE JULY COLUMN, CONVINCED THAT THE REVOLUTION OF 1830 WAS ONLY MADE IN ORDER TO HAVE A PRETEXT TO BUILD AN OBSERVATORY ON THE PLACE
Honoré Daumier
A visit to the Library. - Listen woman... they have told us not to disturb the people sitting here, because they are working. - What do you mean working... they are just feigning to be working... in reality they aren't moving at all! --- Visitors from the province who insist on overlooking Paris from the top of the July Column, convinced that the revolution of 1830 was only made in order to have a pretext to build an observatory on the Place de la Bastille.
1853
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
MONSIEUR ADOLPH CHAMOUILLARD, YOU ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FOOD. I DECLARE YOU ARE A VOLUPTUARY! YOU MUST KNOW THAT THE SPARTANS ATE NOTHING BUT BLACK BROTH ALL YEAR LONG!! - AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO EAT RED BEANS ALL THE TIME!
Honoré Daumier
Monsieur Adolph Chamouillard, you are always complaining about the food. I declare you are a voluptuary! You must know that the Spartans ate nothing but black broth all year long!! - At least they didn't have to eat red beans all the time!
1846
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.
JUST LOOK WHERE THEY SQUEEZED IN MY PAINTING. - I SAY, MY FRIEND... YOU ARE NOT HAPPY?.... YOU SHOULD BE MORE THAN SATISFIED SINCE THEY ARE HANGING HIGHER THAN THOSE BY MEISSONNIER!
Honoré Daumier
Just look where they squeezed in my painting. - I say, my friend... you are not happy?.... you should be more than satisfied since they are hanging higher than those by Meissonnier!
1859