Humankind’s propensity for dupery—the seemingly perpetual supply of scallywags coupled with an even larger supply of suckers—never fails to astound me. The idea that the grosser the distortion of reality, the more inclined some people are to believe it, doesn’t make a bit of sense, but this aspect of the human condition has persisted for centuries. Perhaps one of the finest examples of unshakeable hoodwinkery is found in a 19th-century satirical cartoon series by Honoré Daumier, featuring the schemes of Robert Macaire.
Satire at its Finest
The best political and societal humorists know how to crack a joke while simultaneously pointing out a serious flaw in a commonly accepted practice or belief. Two of the earliest and finest masters of this craft were the French caricaturist Honoré Daumier and his publisher Charles Philpon, the founder of one of France’s earliest satirical magazines.
Daumier was an extraordinarily prolific artist, having produced over 100 sculptures, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, 1,000 wood engravings, and 4,000 lithographs. His life’s work features myriad instantiations of mankind’s foibles. It has been compared to Balzac’s—a visual (rather than written) Comédie Humaine that satirized the monarchy, politicians, the judicial system, educators, artists, the bourgeoisie, and human nature in general. This week, I thought it would be fun to expose a sliver of Daumier’s œuvre by presenting several works from his series Caricaturana.
Between 1836 and 1838, Daumier produced 101 etchings for Philipon’s popular magazine, Le Charivari. (Philipon perfected the clever captions that accompany each image.) The series features the shenanigans of one Robert Macaire, a quintessential scoundrel whose ego is only exceeded by his propensity for exaggeration and outright lying. Macaire is often accompanied by his lackey Bertrand, who frequently questions the wisdom of Macaire’s vision and is summarily silenced by a barrage of ridicule.
I hope you enjoy these prints as much as I do and find that the circumstances they depict are still pertinent. Some images, however, will undoubtedly stand out from the rest. Let me know your favorites. Do you find any striking comparisons to today?
Bertrand, j’adore l’industrie…
Bertrand, j’adore l’industrie…
Si tu veux, nous créons une banque, mais voilà, une vraie banque !… Capital 100 millions de millions, 100 milliards de milliards d’Actions. Nous enfonçons la Banque de France, nous enfonçons les banquiers, les banquistes, nous enfonçons tout le monde !…
Oui, mais les gendarmes ?…
Que tu es bête Bertrand ! Est-ce qu’on arrête un millionnaire ?
Bertrand, I adore industry…
If you want, we can create a bank, but watch, an actual bank!… With capital of 100 million millions, 100 billion billions of Shares. We sink the Bank of France, we sink the bankers, we crush everybody!…
But what about the police?…
Are you ever stupid Bertrand! Does one go about arresting a millionaire?
Robert-Macaire Médecin
Robert-Macaire Médecin.
Diable! ne plaisantez pas avec cette maladie !…
Croyez-moi, buvez de l’eau, beaucoup d’eau !
Frottez-vous les os des jambes et revenez me voir souvent, ça ne vous ruinera pas, mes consultations sont gratuites…
Vous me devez 20 fr. pour ces deux bouteilles.
On reprend le verre pour 10 centimes.
Robert Macaire, Physician.
Damn! Don’t joke around with this illness!…
Believe me, drink water, lots of water!
Rub the bones of your legs and come back to see me frequently, this won’t break you, my consultations are free…
You owe me 20 francs for these two bottles.
I’ll take back the glass for 10 centimes.
Robert-Macaire Avoué
Robert-Macaire Avoué.
Gagné mon cher, gagné sur tous points !
C’est bien temps, un procès qui a duré 10 ans et qui m’a ruiné !
Mieux vaut tard que jamais !
Enfin combien me revient-il ?
Le voici : la cour vous accorde 12,000 f. Nous avons 13,500 f. de frais, vous ne me devez plus que 1,500 f.
Mais alors, je perds 1500 f.
Oui, mais vous gagnez votre procès…
Robert Macaire, Attorney.
Won, my dear man, won on all points!
It’s about time, a trial that has lasted 10 years and ruined my fortune!
Better late than never!
In the end, how much will I get back?
Here’s the deal: the court will give you 12,000 francs. We’ll have 13,500 francs of expenses, you’ll only owe me 1,500 francs.
So then, I lose 1,500 francs.
Yes, but you win your case…
Mr de Robert-Macaire restaurateur
Mr de Robert-Macaire restaurateur.
Nous exploiterons la carotte en grand! Nous servirons le potage en voiture, nous aurons des tables sur toutes les bornes, nous ferons pleuvoir dans Paris les alouettes rôties… Nous…
Avez-vous déjà réalisé quelque chose de ce beau projet?
Comment donc ! mais sans doute, sans doute ! j’ai réalisé les actions.
Mr. Robert Macaire, Restauranter.
We will exploit the carrot to great effect! We will serve soup from carriages, we will have tables all over the place, we’ll have roasted larks raining all over Paris… We…
Have you already realized parts of this beautiful project?
Absolutely! But without a doubt, without a doubt! I’ve created the company shares.
Robert-Macaire, Professeur d’Industrie
Robert-Macaire, Professeur d’Industrie.
Exemple: vous achetez un procédé nouveau, n’importe quoi, bon ou mauvais, vous l’achetez 600 f., 500 f., 25 francs, le moins possible ! Vous créez 500.000 f. d’actions, le plus possible ! Vous faites des annonces-monstres, des affiches-monstres, des pro-messes-monstres, vous réalisez le capital, vous l’empochez, vous mettez ensuite la clé sur la porte, vous déposez votre bilan, c’est-à-dire le bilan de la Société… Le tour est fait, et vous passez à un autre.
Robert Macaire, Professor of Industry.
Example: you buy rights to a new way of doing things, doesn’t matter what it is, good or bad, you buy it for 600 francs, 500 francs, 25 francs, as little as possible! You create 500,000 shares, as many as possible! You make monstrous announcements, monstrous posters, monstrous promises, you raise capital, you pocket the funds, then you close up shop, you file your financials, that is the company balance sheet… That’s all there is to it, and you move on to the next venture.
Bureau de Bienfaisance
Bureau de Bienfaisance
Que diable ! Macaire, te voilà à la tête d’un bureau de Charité, est-ce que tu vas tout garder pour toi ? ne donneras-tu rien à ton pauvre Bertrand ?
Pauvre ! dis-tu ? toi qui vis avec rien, toi qui n’as pas d’habitudes de dépenses! Que suis-je donc moi, qui ne peux me passer de valets, de chevaux, de maîtresses, de luxe enfin… Va, je suis le plus pauvre de mon Arrondissement, l’argent des annonces me revient de droit.
Office of Charity
What the devil! Macaire, look at you at the head of an office of charity, are you going to keep everything for yourself? won’t you give anything to your poor Bertrand?
Poor! you say? you who live with nothing, you who doesn’t have any spending habits! If only I was that way, I who can’t live without a valet, horses, women, all forms of luxury… Go on, I am the poorest man in my neighborhood, the money we raise here by rights is mine.
Robert-Macaire Architecte
Robert-Macaire Architecte.
D’après votre devis, ma maison ne devait me coûter que 50.000 f. et j’ai déjà dépensé cent mille écus…
C’est votre faute ! vous avez modifié mon plan, nous devions ouvrir la croisée du fond sur la gauche, vous la faites ouvrir à droite, nous devions faire cinq étages, nous n’en faisons plus que quatre, que diable ! ça change le devis…
Robert Macaire, Architect.
According to your bid, my house shouldn’t cost me more than 50,000 francs and I have already spent 100,000 écus [equivalent to roughly 500,000 francs]…
That is your fault! you modified my plan, we were supposed to open the rear casement window to the left, you made it open to the right, we needed to build 5 floors, we only did four, what the hell! that changes the bid…
Un oculiste breveté
Un oculiste breveté.
Ah ! ça, Monsieur Macaire, depuis six mois vous me bassinez avec votre eau merveilleuse, et je suis toujours aveugle. Cela finit par me coûter bien cher, mon Argent s’en va, c’est tout ce que je vois…
Hé bien ! c’est déjà quelque chose, continuez, vous finirez par y voir clair… (à part)… dans votre bourse.
A patented ophthalmologist.
Oh! that, Monsieur Macaire, for six months you have bathed me with your marvelous water, and I’m still blind. This has ended by costing me a lot, my Money is disappearing, that’s all that I see…
Well, well! that’s already something, continue onward, you’ll end up with everything clear… (under his breath)… in your purse.
Pensionnat Robert-Macaire
Pensionnat Robert-Macaire.
Mr le Professeur, voilà mon système d’éducation : mener les études doucement pour qu’elles aillent longtemps, donner des vacances, recevoir des cadeaux à tous les anniversaires possibles, et quant aux prix, être d’une impartialité parfaite…
C’est juste, n’en donner qu’aux meilleurs élèves…
Fichtre ! pas si bête ! Mécontenter les parents! non pas, non pas, donner des prix à tout le monde, chacun le sien !
Robert Macaire Boarding School.
Professor, here’s my system of education: conduct lessons quietly so that they go on for a long time, give vacations, welcome gifts for all possible anniversaries, and as for prizes, be perfectly impartial…
That’s fair, only giving them to the best students…
Golly! don’t be stupid! Upset the parents! no, no, give prizes to everyone, each their own!
Robert-Macaire au restaurant
Robert-Macaire au restaurant.
Mon Dieu !… par le plus grand de tous les hasards, mon ami et moi, nous n’avons pas pris d’argent ce matin… Comme vous n’avez pas l’honneur de nous connaître, je vous prie d’accepter en garantie des 6f. 25c. que nous vous devons, ces dix actions industrielles ou bien le chapeau de mon ami…
J‘aime encore mieux le chapeau de votre ami !
Robert Macaire at the restaurant.
My God!… by the greatest of all coincidences, my friend and I, we forgot to take money with us this morning… Since you haven’t had the honor of getting to know us, I beg you to accept a promise for the 6 francs 25 centimes that we owe you, these 10 shares of stock or perhaps my friend’s hat…
I greatly prefer your friend’s hat!
Messieurs les actionnaires
Messieurs les actionnaires.
Le créateur de la société, Mr Macaire, s’est démis de ses fonctions de gérant. Voici l’état dans lequel il a laissé l’opération.
Capital social: 800.000 f.
– Dépenses d’affiches, annonces, prospectus, articles payés: 400.000 f.
– Achat de fourneaux économiques, allumettes, casseroles et carottes Ire Qualité:
400.000 f.
– Reste en caisse quatre cent mille zéros…
En un mot, notre fonds est fricassé, nous l’avons mangé; le bouillon dont nous devions inonder Paris, c’est nous-mêmes qui l’avons bu et si nous ne mettons pas du beurre dans les épinards, la marmite est renversée.
Un nouveau versement de 800.000 francs est voté à l’unanimité.
Dear Shareholders.
The founder of this company, Mr. Macaire, has resigned from his functions as director. Here is the state of operations that he left us with.
Capital stock: 800,000 francs
– Expenses for posters, announcements, prospectus, paid articles: 400,000 francs
– Purchase of economical stoves, matches, pots, and carrots of the highest quality: 400,000 francs
-Leaving 400,000 zeros in the cash register..
In a word, our funds have been frittered away, we’ve eaten them; the broth with which we needed to flood Paris, it’s us who have drunk it and if we don’t put some butter on the spinach, the pot is overturned.
A new round of 800,000 francs is unanimously voted upon.
Je ne sais pas ce qu’on peut trouver d’amusant…
Robert Macaire : Je ne sais pas ce qu’on peut trouver d’amusant à toutes ces bêtises-là…
Bertrand: Je ne vois pas ce qu’on y trouve de piquant…
Bob ! Macaire. C’est dégoûtant ! c’est calomnier la société…
Bertrand: La Gendarmerie ne devrait pas souffrir de pareils coquins !…
Bob ! Macaire : De qui parlez-vous, imbécile ?
Bertrand: Je parle des caricaturistes…
Robert-Macaire : à la bonne heure ! ! !
(Bertrand:) Robert Macaire, I don’t know what you can find amusing about all of this bad behavior…
(Macaire:) Bertrand, I don’t see what you find so prickly about it…
(Bertrand:) Bob! Macaire. It’s disgusting! it’s denigrating society…
(Macaire:) Bertrand, The Police should not suffer from such rascals!…
(Bertrand:) Bob! Macaire, Who are you talking about, imbecile?
(Macaire:) Bertrand, I’m talking about caricaturists…
(Bertrand:) Robert Macaire, that’s the spirit!!!
Endnotes
You never know what you’ll find when perusing the stalls of Parisian bouquinistes—the colorful booksellers who line the river Seine or set up shop on sidewalks throughout the city. In December 2023, I came across a copy of Honoré Daumier’s Caricaturana, all 101 etchings with a short biography, from a vendor whose open-air tables blocked much of the pedestrian route along the Boulevard des Batignoles. For five euros, I walked away with a small treasure.
Every trip to Paris should include at least one purchase from this beloved community of booksellers. Their survival depends on it.
Some of History’s Remarkable Scoundrels and Scams
- Affair Of The Diamond Necklace, Swindle That Ruined An Innocent Queen
- The Surprising Bilking of a Nation, The Piastres Affair
- The Contentious Comeback of Wine Forger Rudy Kurniawan
- The Ultimate Hoodwinkery, The Crook Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
Discover more from cas d'intérêt
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He was a talented artist. And a prolific one.
Very true. Daumier was very dedicated to his work and didn’t spend much time socializing. Yet, he managed to glean a heck of a lot about human nature. Love the guy.
Tout-à-fait d’actualité.
Les prix d’excellence à tout le monde would be the current French schooling system… sadly.
And who would ever think of putting a millionaire in jail? I mean, really…
(A word about Bureau de aisance. I think it’s Bureau de bienfaisance… Les lieux d’aisance autrefois étaient les toilettes ou les latrines… )
Bon weekend to you and yours… Despite the mounting horrors…
Thanks for the translation tip Brieuc. I considered titling that drawing Bureau de Bienfaisance, but the fact that Daumier centers the word Aisance under the words “Bureau’ and “de” made me stick with what I saw. Daumier was so clever. I think his positioning of the letters is intentional–that he meant to create a double-entendre. French readers (his audience) would immediately assume the sign read Bureau de Bienfaisance but anyone scrutinizing the drawing would read it as I originally translated it, as an office that had been set up for Macaire’s material benefit.
As you know, that’s the trouble with translation. Sometimes, you can’t perfectly repackage the source to create the same effect in the target. In the end, I decided to update the post to read Bureau de Bienfaisance, Office of Charity.
You might be right about Daumier’s intentions… (Where do you find your material? On the ‘net? At your local friendly library?)
Regarding where I get material: I have far more ideas for posts than I’ll ever be able to execute. They are fueled by my persistent quest to improve my proficiency in French and increase my knowledge of French history and culture. In this case, inspiration came from a copy of Caricartuna that I bought from a bouquiniste in Paris in 2023. Other sources have been articles, books, podcasts, films, my own travels, exhibits, … It’s a fun and totally self-indulgent gig. The pay sucks though.
Très bien. Fun is priceless… . Les meilleures choses au monde sont gratuites, non?
Bien sûr!
Are you in Paris right now? Or back already? Bon weekend.
Je pars le 24, reviens le 15 octobre. Pourquoi, as-tu d’autres tuyaux?
Non, pas d’autres tuyaux… Bon voyage…
PS. What bugs me about today’s times and Daumier’s irony, is that I grew up in a world that put rationality above all else. Europe had grown over the bloodiest massacre in history, realising things could not go on as they had “in saecula saeculorum”. Crooks went to jail. There were talks to limit weapons. There was a goal of progress.
Dr King had NO hatred in his heart. He had a DREAM. (Just because I write in caps shouldn’t remind anyone of the Moron-in-chief.) A dream, as imperfect as it could be, a dream. No hatred.
The Reps in Congress seem to have nothing but hatred for the “Dems”. “They own this 100%”.
Is there something in the water that’s been put recently?
Thanks for the follow-up comment Brieuc. I agree. Whatever happened to putting a high priority on rational thinking? All ideas aren’t equal and people seem to be increasingly ill-equipped to discern the difference between reliable information and the absurd. I don’t mean to rant but another problem is that leaders from all sorts of domains (politics, business, media,…) no longer value long-term thinking. It’s all about next quarter’s financials or the next election. It’s hard to measure progress or the lack thereof when you only consider 6 to 24-month intervals. Si on était les maîtres du monde… 🙂
Si on était… Grâce à Dieu I never had such ambitions. To be my own master was good enough… (But you know about that feeling, don’t you?)
I’d never want the job either.
The spirit of Robert Macaire is alive and well today and embodied in the “AI” “industry”. It’s impossible not to think of that scam when reading these. I guess flim-flam men like this have been around forever, they just adapt to whatever can fool people in a given era.
The restauranteur who opted for the hat over the shares made a smart decision.
That’s an interesting comparison to the AI bubble, Infidel. I think many of the AI preachers truly believe their own hype but I guess there have plenty of charlatans that managed to convince themselves that their actions were warranted if not downright righteous.
I agree about the hat!