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Won’t you celebrate with me

Zéh Palito

Won’t you celebrate with me

2022

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Won’t you celebrate with me

Zéh Palito

Won’t you celebrate with me

Zéh Palito

Won’t you celebrate with me

2022

Physical Qualities Acrylic on canvas, 70 7/8 × 59 in. (180 × 149.9 cm.)
Credit Line Gift of the Artist
Object Number 2023.8
Brazil-born, Baltimore-based artist Zéh Palito often depicts the figures in his works in positions of power, self-confidence, and respite from the world. Won’t you celebrate with me features Black patrons enjoying the pool at the Colbrook Motel in Chester, Virginia. The Colbrook, believed to be one of the first Black-owned motels in the United States, was included in an edition of The Negro Motorist Green Book, a publication that highlighted safe businesses for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era. Palito gleaned the title of this painting from the same-named poem by Baltimorean and former Maryland Poet Laureate Lucille Clifton (1936–2010). Speaking to the importance of resilience, Clifton wrote: “come celebrate/with me that everyday/something has tried to kill me/and has failed.”
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 2023; the artist

Artist

Zéh Palito

born São Paulo, Brazil 1986

born São Paulo, Brazil 1986
Meet Zéh Palito
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BY SAME ARTIST
CONTEMPORARY ART
MY DEAR, SINCE WE WON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SEE EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THE PICTURES ON THE RIGHT WHILE I'LL LOOK AT THE ONES ON THE LEFT, AND WHEN WE GET HOME, WE'LL TELL EACH OTHER EVERYTHING WE SAW.
Honoré Daumier
My dear, since we won't have enough time to see everything in one day, you should look at the pictures on the right while I'll look at the ones on the left, and when we get home, we'll tell each other everything we saw.
1859
TO IMAGINE THAT NEXT YEAR I WILL BE EXHIBITED AND THAT EVERYBODY IN PARIS WILL SEE ME... ITS IS KIND OF FLATTERING, ISN'T IT DEAR? - I'M JUST UNHAPPY THAT YOU WON'T BE WEARING YOUR NECK-TIE... IT LOOKS A BIT SLOPPY... IF THERE IS STILL SOME TIME, WHY DON'T YOU ASK THE SCULPTOR TO ADD ON YOUR STAND-UP COLLAR.
Honoré Daumier
To imagine that next year I will be exhibited and that everybody in Paris will see me... its is kind of flattering, isn't it Dear? - I'm just unhappy that you won't be wearing your neck-tie... it looks a bit sloppy... if there is still some time, why don't you ask the sculptor to add on your stand-up collar.
1859
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
MR.LIFEGUARD.... IS IT TRUE THERE ARE SHARKS AT DIEPPE? - OF COURSE... BUT IT IS PRETTY SIMPLE... AS SOON AS YOU SEE ONE COMING TO EAT YOU, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LAY DOWN SIDEWAYS. HE WON'T EAT YOU FOR FEAR OF CHOKING TO DEATH.
Honoré Daumier
Mr.Lifeguard.... is it true there are sharks at Dieppe? - Of course... but it is pretty simple... as soon as you see one coming to eat you, all you have to do is lay down sideways. He won't eat you for fear of choking to death.
1858
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
IT WON'T BE AS EASY AS THAT, MONSIEUR! YOU PERPETRATED THE INFAMY TO ASK FOR THE MONEY THAT I OWE YOU.... YOU OBLIGE ME TO ADMIT THAT I CANNOT PAY YOU. YOU HUMILIATE ME. I DEMAND COMPENSATION, MONSIEUR!
Honoré Daumier
It won't be as easy as that, Monsieur! You perpetrated the infamy to ask for the money that I owe you.... You oblige me to admit that I cannot pay you. You humiliate me. I demand compensation, Monsieur!
1837
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 Y
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
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
GOOD BYE MY DEAR, I AM OFF TO SEE MY PUBLISHER. I PROBABLY WON'T BE BACK UNTIL QUITE LATE. MAKE SURE TO GIVE DODORE HIS PAP TWICE ... AND FOR THE REST.... YOU'LL FIND IT UNDER THE BED.
Honoré Daumier
Good bye my dear, I am off to see my publisher. I probably won't be back until quite late. Make sure to give Dodore his pap twice ... and for the rest.... you'll find it under the bed.
1844