A couple is looking at the moon. The half-moon was often used in France as a symbol for the deceived husband. When this series was published, Daumier had not yet been married to Alexandrine Dassy, who was to become his wife. She nevertheless appears several times in this series as a tender wife. The relationship between husband and wife in Paris at this period was not relaxed. The women’s lib movements were starting to appear while at the same time the men were still fixed on the traditional thinking of the past. Therefore, the little quarrels and discussions shown by Daumier in this series were well known scenes to the population, but mostly as seen in the neighbor’s marriage. Delteil mentioned that in the January edition of the Charivari the following information about this series was published: "The Parisian families found an untiring adversary in Daumier's crayon. He showed the little daily misfortunes and miseries and retraced them with comic truth. It is this unmerciful frankness which qualifies our artist. Oh, those of you who are contemplating of giving up their life of a bachelor, this album will console you and will make he whole world, also the married one, smile.” Soon after, the “Femmes Socialistes” and the “Bas Bleus” will appear, setting an end to the male superiority and advocating equality between man and woman.
Copyright restrictions may apply. For permission to copy or use this image, contact the Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University Libraries. The following credit line must be included with each item used: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman Collection of Honoré Daumier Lithographs, Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.
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Place of origin:
Paris
Notes:
2nd state.
Published in: Le Charivari, May 10, 1840.
Notes (acquisition):
Donated by: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman, 1959.
