On pleure aux Mélodrames. Delicious sympathy at a melodrama. BAL2013.40, 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. 8cm width: 26cm description: colored print marks, inscriptions, hallmarks: title of the work - under the image: we cry at the melodramas. Delicious sympathy at a melodrama. Author inscription - below the image on the right: senefelder lith. Inscription concerning the author - under the image on the left: henry monnier watermark - "jw" iconographic description: at the corner of a poor house, a poor young girl begs on her knees, her hands folded in prayer. A man stops next to him, his gaze stern, one hand in his pocket and the other making a disapproving gesture with his hat. 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: "you know that i cannot stay in alençon: my mother will beat me, madame lardot sticks to the principles as if she were repeating them; she will chase me away. Poor worker that i am, will i go to the hospital, will i go beg for my bread? no! i would rather throw myself into the brillante or in sarthe. But isn't it simpler that i go to paris? my mother will be able to find a pretext to send me there: it will be an uncle who asks for me, an aunt who is dying, a lady who will wish me well. It's just a matter of having the money necessary for the trip and everything you know. Themes / subjects / places represented: subject of society, morals, poverty - misery mode of acquisition: purchase institution: maison de balzac inventory number: bal2013. 40. Date: En 1827.