About this Item
Antique print, titled: 'No. 62 - Robert Macaire choisissant un gérant commercial - Brevet d'invention, capital 3 millions (Robert Macaire chooses a business manager - Patent invention, capital of 3 million)' - This satirical print shows Macaire, the unscrupulous swindler and profiteer. He chooses a business manager for his business based on an invention patent, presumably worth 3 million. This item contains two sheets of paper. The 1st sheet contains title page with text (front) and continuation of text (rear). The 2nd sheet contains the final text page (front) and the lithograph (rear). This scarse print and text originates from: 'Les Cent et Un Robert-Macaire, composés et dessinés par M.H. Daumier, sur les idées et les légendes de M. Ch. Philipon, réduits et lithographiés par M.M ***; texte par MM. Maurice Alhoy et Louis Huart, published in Paris by Aubert & Cie., 1840 edition. This issue contains lithographed plates by or after Daumier with captions by Philipon beneath and continuation of letterpress text on versos. Daumier's striking images and Philipon's pointy text were first published in a larger format in 'Le Charivari' between the 20th August 1836 and 25th November 1838 (first series). Daumier produced these social caricatures, in which he holds bourgeois society up to ridicule in the figure of Robert Macaire, hero of a popular melodrama created in 1823 by Benjamin Antier ('L' Auberge des andrets.') The breakthrough came in 1834, when Frédérick Lemaitre used the names of Macaire and his somewhat simple partner Serres-Bertrand for his various comedies in Paris. The figure of Macaire goes back as far as 1371, when - as the legend goes - Aubri de Montdidier, a nobleman from the court of Charles V was assassinated by Macaire. The murder was vindicated by his dog, the only witness of the assassination. A duel between the dog and Macaire, who was armed with a cudgel, should settle the case. The dog killed Macaire, who confessed the murder before he died. The 'Robert-Macaire' represents all that was wrong with the society under King Louis Phillipp's I Regime, satirizing businessmen personified in Macaire, an unscrupulous, flattering swindler and profiteer. In this issue reduced, often reversed versions of the plates were drawn and related text compiled by Alhoy and Huart. Philipon was the author of all the texts of this series. It should be noted that Daumier did not monogram or sign the prints, presumable because Philipon wanted to document his position as author of the texts and as 'inventor' of the series. Ref: Beraldi V, p. 124; Carteret III, p. 187; Hazard-Delteil 989-1090; Ray French 162; Vicaire I, 31. Original crayon-lithograph. Rear text and text pages in letterpress text on a vellin type paper. Honoré Daumier (1808-1879) was a French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor, whose many works offer commentary on social and political life in France in the 19th century. Charles Philipon (1800-1861) was a French lithographer, caricaturist and journalist. He was the editor of the La Caricature and of Le Charivari, both satirical political journals. Adolphe Menut is an alias for Marie Alexandre Alophe (1812-1883) a French lithographer, painter and photographer. Very good, given age. Narrow lower margin. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully. The overall size is ca. 19 x 25 cm. The image size is ca. 17 x 20 cm. The overall size is ca. 7.5 x 9.8 inch. The image size is ca. 6.7 x 7.9 inch. Storage location: C193-12. Seller Inventory # 73627
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