Plate 39: Robert Macaire business agent, from 'Caricaturana,' published in Les Robert Macaires

Art Historical Context

In 1838, Honoré Daumier, publisher Charles Philipon and printer Aubert et Cie, *Plate 39: Robertaire business agent* as part of the satirical series *Caricaturana*, published in *Les Robert Mac*. This lithograph on wove paper captures the infamous character Robert Macaire— a slick, opportunistic rogue popularized on stage by actor Frédérick Lître—as a scheming "business agent."umier's sharp, expressive lines exaggerate the figure's sly grin and gesturing hands, embodying the era's corrupt financiers and middlemen who profited amid France's booming July Monarchy economy. The series, spanning 1836–1838, was a bold critique of Louis-Philippe's regime, skewering hypocrisy in professions from banker to politician. Philipon's journals *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari* fueled this golden age of French caricature, with Daumier's realist style blending humor and incisive social commentary. This second-state impression highlights lithography's revolutionary role: its affordability enabled widespread distribution, amplifying dissent despite censorship threats—Philipon and Daumier even faced lawsuits and imprisonment for their barbs. Measuring about 9½ × 8½ inches, this print from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection remains a testament to 19th-century satire's power, inviting viewers to chuckle at timeless greed while reflecting on power's absurdities.

About the Artist

Aubert et Cie|Charles Philipon|Honoré Daumier|Junca|Aubert et Cie (French|French|French) · 1808 |1829 |1829 –1879 |1929 |1929

French, Marseilles 1808–1879 Valmondois| |