Solliciteurs. Solicitations. BAL2013.49, Henry Monnier, En 1827

Author(s): monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer senefelder et cie, designer-lithographer production date: in 1827 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: 20. 5cm width: 28cm description: colored print marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: title of the work - under the image: solicitors. Requests. Author inscription - below the image on the right: senefelder lith. Inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier iconographic description: viewed in profile, a line of men marching in a kind of ridiculous goose step. In bourgeois attire, they all hold their top hats in their hands. 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 mores of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "it is impossible to tell you the scenes of high comedy which are hidden under this algebraic synthesis of his life: the useless factions made at the foot of fortune which flew away, the long hunts through the parisian bushes, the races of the panting canvasser, the attempts tried on imbeciles, the lofty projects which aborted by the influence of an inept woman, the conferences with shopkeepers who wanted their funds to bring them lodges, and the peerage, and large interests; the hopes which reached the height, and which fell flat on the breakers; legion of honor, as ignorant as a clerk, preferred to a man of talent; then what marcas called the stratagems of stupidity: you knock on a man, he seems convinced, he nods his head, everything will work out; the next day, this elastic gum, compressed for a moment, regained its consistency during the night, it even swelled, and everything had to start again; you work again until you have recognized that you are not dealing with a man, but with putty drying in the sun. " [extract from z. Marcas, by honoré de balzac] themes / subjects / places represented: subject of society, morals, bourgeois, top hat mode of acquisition: purchase institution: maison de balzac inventory number: bal2013. 49. Date: En 1827.