Satisfaction personnelle, BAL98-64d, Henry Monnier, 1825

Author(s): monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer villain, françois (buire-au-bois, in 1790 - in 1852), designer-lithographer gihaut frères, publisher other title: general exploitation of the fashions and ridiculousness of paris and london (series title) production date: 1825 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: 34. 1cm width: 23. 3cm dimensions - picture: height: 21. 4cm width: 14cm description: colored print marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: number - above the image on the right: no. 3 caption - below the image: personal satisfaction inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier inscription concerning the author - under the image on the right: lith de villain, rue de sèvres, n°23 registration concerning the test - under the image on the right: chez gihaut frères, édit. Iconographic description: a man in a black suit, his head disproportionately large for his small height, stands in a busy street. He interlocks his fingers as if to adjust his gloves, he holds his top hat under his arm. In the background, elegant couples stroll arm in arm. 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: "mr. Baron, he said, made his secretary his best friend. Ah! i would be nicely scolded if mr. De la brière were not treated like mr. Baron himself! and, after all, mr. De la brière is referendum at the court of auditors. " germain only ever showed himself dressed all in cloth black, clean gloves on the hands, boots, and dressed like a master. " [modest mignon, by honoré de balzac] themes / subjects / places represented: subject of society, morals, top hat institution: maison de balzac inventory number: bal98-64d. Date: 1825.