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Honoré-Victorin Daumier

The Despair of the Butcher. “- Just imagine: Anybody can establish himself as a butcher! Ah! There are moments when I feel like taking my meat chopper and cutting myself in two halves like a simple veal,” plate 458 from Actualités

1857
Lithograph in black on buff wove paper, with letterpress verso
21.4 × 24.4 cm (8.4 × 9.6 in)

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

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More by Honoré-Victorin Daumier

Two LawyersTwo LawyersThe Print CollectorThe Print CollectorExploiting friendship. “My dear Alphonse, I've invited these gentlemen, my friends, to dine at your home. I would like them to taste our champagne, we'll laugh... wait a minute! I've an idea. What if we went to the wood? We could take your barouche and you could lend us some clothes as we only came to pay a simple visite... In the meantime, why don't you give us some cards and some Napoleons to pass the time. Eh? My good Alphonse, dear chap. How about it?,” plate 58 from CaricaturanaExploiting friendship. “My dear Alphonse, I've invited theseRobert: “- 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 MacaireRobert: “- Well, well! My dear director... how's business?” Mr. Prune, plate 288 from Célébrités de la CaricatureMr. Prune, plate 288 from Célébrités de la Caricature“God! How I loved that fellow there!,” plate 16 from Caricatures Politiques“God! How I loved that fellow there!,” plate 16 from CaricatA Victim of His Own Politeness, plate 7 from Croquis MusicauxA Victim of His Own Politeness, plate 7 from Croquis MusicauA Candidate. “Who do you want?... An upright, conscientious, sober man, an industrialist, a man who doesn't need the government to enrich himself, a man familiar with the law, who knows it well, through practice, very long practice... a long practice of law... you can't choose any better than... my honorable friend,” plate 48 from CaricaturanaA Candidate. “Who do you want?... An upright, conscientious,

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