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An Alibi. – I’m telling you I saw Bonaparte at the Hippodrome. – But that’s impossible because I just heard him at the National Assembly. – You’re both wrong, because I just passed Place Vendôme a minute ago, and he was on the column.
Public Domain

Honoré Daumier

An Alibi. – I’m telling you I saw Bonaparte at the Hippodrome. – But that’s impossible because I just heard him at the National Assembly. – You’re both wrong, because I just passed Place Vendôme a minute ago, and he was on the column.

1848

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An Alibi. – I’m telling you I saw Bonaparte at the Hippodrome. – But that’s impossible because I just heard him at the National Assembly. – You’re both wrong, because I just passed Place Vendôme a minute ago, and he was on the column.

Honoré Daumier

An Alibi. – I’m telling you I saw Bonaparte at the Hippodrome. – But that’s impossible because I just heard him at the National Assembly. – You’re both wrong, because I just passed Place Vendôme a minute ago, and he was on the column.

Honoré Daumier

An Alibi. – I’m telling you I saw Bonaparte at the Hippodrome. – But that’s impossible because I just heard him at the National Assembly. – You’re both wrong, because I just passed Place Vendôme a minute ago, and he was on the column.

1848

Physical Qualities Crayon lithograph, Sheet: 240 × 194 mm. (9 7/16 × 7 5/8 in.)
Credit Line Nelson and Juanita Greif Gutman Collection
Object Number 1963.313.80

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
AN ALIBI. - I'M TELLING YOU I SAW BONAPARTE AT THE HIPPODROME. - BUT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE I JUST HEARD HIM AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. - YOU'RE BOTH WRONG, BECAUSE I JUST PASSED PLACE VENDÔME A MINUTE AGO, AND HE WAS ON THE COLUMN.
Honoré Daumier
An Alibi. - I'm telling you I saw Bonaparte at the Hippodrome. - But that's impossible because I just heard him at the National Assembly. - You're both wrong, because I just passed Place Vendôme a minute ago, and he was on the column.
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
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
YOU MUST ADMIT THAT IT IS A BIT BORING, MONSIEUR LOUSTALOT, TO STAND LIKE THIS ALL DAY WITH YOUR ARMS UP LIKE THAT HOLDING THE SIGNAL-FLAG?... - YOU ARE TELLING ME!.. AND I'M SO STUFFED UP WITH A COLD! I NEEDED TO BLOW MY NOSE FOR THE PAST 45 MINUTES..... BUT I DON'T DARE .... IT MIGHT ENDANGER THE SAFETY OF THE TRAIN.... I'LL ASK THE NEXT PASSENGER WHO HAPPENS TO PASS BY TO DO ME THIS FAVOUR.
Honoré Daumier
You must admit that it is a bit boring, Monsieur Loustalot, to stand like this all day with your arms up like that holding the signal-flag?... - You are telling me!.. and I'm so stuffed up with a cold! I needed to blow my nose for the past 45 minutes..... but I don't dare .... it might endanger the safety of the train.... I'll ask the next passenger who happens to pass by to do me this favour.
1843
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
c. 1903
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
THE GRAND STAIRWAY OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Alfred Prunaire and Honoré Daumier
The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice
n.d.
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 T
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