☙ Les cent et un Robert-Macaire

1939 - Honoré Daumier

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☙ Les cent et un Robert-Macaire

✑ Honoré Daumier

LES CENT ET UN ROBERT-MACAIRE

Les cent et un Robert-Macaire represents one of the most celebrated and biting lithographic series by Honoré Daumier, the undisputed master of 19th-century French caricature. Originally published between 1836 and 1838 in the newspaper Le Charivari, this exceptional suite features Robert-Macaire, the emblematic character of the cynical yet charming swindler, accompanied by his sidekick Bertrand. This 1939 edition, published by Albert Morancé, brings together all 101 plates in a carefully produced volume. Through the adventures of Robert-Macaire, Daumier paints a scathing portrait of French society under the July Monarchy. Each lithograph depicts Macaire in different professions and situations, revealing the hypocrisy, corruption, and opportunism that characterized the era. From banker to doctor, from journalist to lawyer, no profession escapes Daumier's satirical gaze. This work remains a precious historical testimony and an inexhaustible source for art historians and enthusiasts of political and social caricature.

Why add it to your collection?

Complete collection of all 101 Robert-Macaire lithographs by Daumier, a masterpiece of 19th-century social satire

Definitive 1939 edition published by Albert Morancé, highly sought after by collectors

Exceptional historical testimony of social criticism during the July Monarchy

Remarkable quality of lithographic reproductions showcasing Daumier's graphic genius

Essential document for understanding the evolution of French caricature and satirical illustration

Description

A Major Work of Social Satire

Les cent et un Robert-Macaire constitutes one of Honoré Daumier's most significant contributions to the art of caricature. Created in the 1830s, at the heart of the July Monarchy, this body of work reflects the social and political tensions of an era marked by the rapid enrichment of the bourgeoisie and the exploitation of the working classes. The character of Robert-Macaire, inspired by a popular theatrical play of the time, becomes under Daumier's pen the archetype of the elegant swindler who prospers in a corrupt society.

Daumier's Graphic Genius

Each lithograph testifies to Daumier's exceptional technical mastery. His dynamic compositions, acute sense of physiognomic observation, and ability to synthesize complex social situations into a single image make this series a masterpiece of the genre. The facial expressions of Robert-Macaire and Bertrand are rendered with remarkable psychological precision, revealing the duplicity, greed, and cynicism of these characters while maintaining an irresistible comic dimension.

The 1939 Edition

This edition published by Albert Morancé in 1939 is particularly sought after by collectors. It offers high-quality reproductions that faithfully restore the nuances and vigor of Daumier's original line. The generous format allows full appreciation of the details of each composition. The careful presentation of the whole testifies to the publishers' respect for this major work of French artistic...

A Major Work of Social Satire

Daumier's Graphic Genius

The 1939 Edition

An Irreplaceable Historical Document

Beyond its artistic value, Les cent et un Robert-Macaire constitutes a historical document of primary importance. The plates offer an exhaustive panorama of the professions, social types, and fraudulent practices of the era. Daumier criticizes crooked bankers, charlatan doctors, corrupt journalists, opportunistic politicians, and many other characteristic figures of his time. This gallery of satirical portraits provides better understanding of the social and economic mechanisms of 19th-century French society, while demonstrating the universality and permanence of the human behaviors denounced by the artist.

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