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Honoré-Victorin Daumier

Robert: “- Well, well! My dear director... how's business?” Bertrand: “- Good, very good, I am quite content. Unfortunately we don't have a penny to continue! - Oh blast! - But an investor still owes us 200,000 Francs... and will come up for signature either tonight or latest tomorrow morning. - About time... I urgently need a new pair of boots,” plate 6 from Robert Macaire

1841
Lithograph, with watercolor, heightened with gum arabic on ivory wove paper
35.7 × 27.7 cm (14.1 × 10.9 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

In the 19th century, men’s accessories were much less varied and changeable than women’s undergarments, but evidently still indispensible. Honoré Daumier’s failing director’s first priority is therefore to buy new boots once his business is solvent again. This unique impression served as a color template for a hand-colored edition of the print.

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