Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
feillet, pierre jacques, printer
dating in century: 19th century
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, ink, lithography, gouache
dimensions - artwork:
height: 26cm
width: 34. 2cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 14. 6cm
width: 10cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
engraving printed on paper and enhanced with gouache. Marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
wet stamp - t. H. (back): g
title of the work - under the image: the economy of the cababove the image on the right: n°5
inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier del
inscription concerning the test - under the image on the right: lith de feillet, faub. Montmartre no. 4
iconographic description:
a woman and a man pull up their pants and petticoats to avoid getting them dirty with mud while walking in the streets (because they were unable to afford a cab). They also covered their heads with shawls and cloths, perhaps to protect themselves from the rain. 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 customs of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "will you understand, my dear, all the pains which assailed me when returning home through the rain and snow, walking on the ice of the quays for a league, having lost everything? oh! to know that she did not even think of my misery and believed me, like her, rich and gently driven! how many ruins and of disappointments! it was no longer about money, but about all the fortunes of my soul. ” [excerpt from la peau de chagrin, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
social subject, morals, carriage, street, rain
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal91. 128. Date: Unknown.
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