Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
gihaut frères, publisher
senefelder et cie, designer-lithographer
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography, vellum paper, watercolor
dimensions - artwork:
height: 35. 7cm
width: 26cm
dimensions - image:
height: 21. 8cm
width: 19cm
description:
colored print
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
title of the work - under the image: the antipodes
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier
author inscription - below the image on the right: lith de senefelder
registration concerning the proof - under the image: chez gihaut frères, editeurs. Iconographic description:
two men turn their backs to each other. One is sitting on a bench, his clothes are poorly tailored and worn, his glasses are falling down his nose. The other is standing, his coat is lined with fur, he is wearing a top hat, he is consulting a document (a newspaper?). Actor, playwright and designer, henry monnier helped illustrate la comédie humaine. His engravings of administrative morals, and especially his play scenes from bureaucratic life, clearly inspired balzac for his novel la femme supérieure, renamed les employés. The same references to the morals of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "david retained some authority over this boy, not because of his title of master, not for having been interested in him, but because the ex-boy from paris recognized in david a high intelligence. Cérizet soon fraternized with the cointet workers, attracted to them by the power of the jacket, the blouse, finally by esprit de corps, perhaps more influential in the lower classes than in the upper classes. " [excerpt from lost illusions, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, poverty - misery, bourgeois
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal98. 61. Unknown date
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