The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 30, 2022

At the Café

c. 1905

Charles Huard

(French, 1874-1965)

France, 20th century

Black crayon and black ink

Support: Wove paper

Sheet: 41.2 x 31.8 cm (16 1/4 x 12 1/2 in.); Image: 39.7 x 30.9 cm (15 5/8 x 12 3/16 in.)

Gift of John Bonebrake 2008.169

Catalogue raisonné: Inventaire du fonds français après 1800, no. 15

Location

not on view

Description

Caricature was popular by 1830 and copious lithographs, often published in newspapers or journals, lampooned politics and society. Huard, a printmaker and illustrator, made drawings that were reproduced in humor magazines. At the Café was probably meant for a satircal publication because the scene of two bourgeois businessmen bears this inscription: In France there are no poor people. There certainly are people with limited means but there are no poor people.

Inscriptions

Inscription

lower right in pencil: "Huard" lower margin, in pencil: "Au Café. En France il n'y'a pas...pauvres (crossed out) il y a certainement de gens disposant d'un bien minime capital, mais il n'y a de pauvres." English translation: "At the Cafe. In France there are no poor people. There are people with limited means, but there are no poor people." Verso, in blue crayon: "Les amateurs"

Exhibition history

A Passion for Prints: The John Bonebrake Donation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (October 2, 2011-January 29, 2012).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2008.169