![](http://www.tumblr.com/share/photo?source=http%3A%2F%2Flibbymurphy.com%2Fhumancomedy%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F037%2F19517971%2Clarge.jpg%3F1382211531&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Flibbymurphy.com%2Fhumancomedy%2Fcontent%2F19517971-1%2F" title="19517971.jpg"%3E19517971.jpg%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EPaul Gavarni
(French, 1804–1866)
Mosieu ... pardon ! ... (Sir… excuse me! …), 1843
Lithograph
Gift of Eugene L. Garbaty, 1951.79.71
Crooks, con men, and thugs, Gavarni suggests, are lying in wait at every turn. As is sometimes the case in Gavarni’s prints, however, the viewer is left to wonder where one’s true sympathies should lie—with the eloquent criminals looking for their next meal, or with the elegant traveler clutching his purse?
Mosieu ... pardon ! ... mon ami prétend que vous brûlez du désir de nous faire une politesse ... il est vrai que nous n'avons pas déjeuné, mais ne serait-il pas un peu indiscret de notre part d'accepter quelques pièces de cent sous ? car enfin mon ami, nous n'avons pas l'honneur de connaître mosieu !
Sir… excuse me! … my friend here claims that you’re burning with the desire to do us a favor… it’s true that we haven’t eaten lunch, but wouldn’t it be a bit indiscreet of us to accept a few ten-cent coins from you? after all, my friend, we don’t have the pleasure of knowing you!
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The Human Comedy: Chronicles of 19th-Century France
19517971.jpg
Paul Gavarni (French, 1804–1866) Mosieu ... pardon ! ... (Sir… excuse me! …), 1843 Lithograph Gift of Eugene L. Garbaty, 1951.79.71
Crooks, con men, and thugs, Gavarni suggests, are lying in wait at every turn. As is sometimes the case in Gavarni’s prints, however, the viewer is left to wonder where one’s true sympathies should lie—with the eloquent criminals looking for their next meal, or with the elegant traveler clutching his purse?
Mosieu ... pardon ! ... mon ami prétend que vous brûlez du désir de nous faire une politesse ... il est vrai que nous n'avons pas déjeuné, mais ne serait-il pas un peu indiscret de notre part d'accepter quelques pièces de cent sous ? car enfin mon ami, nous n'avons pas l'honneur de connaître mosieu !
Sir… excuse me! … my friend here claims that you’re burning with the desire to do us a favor… it’s true that we haven’t eaten lunch, but wouldn’t it be a bit indiscreet of us to accept a few ten-cent coins from you? after all, my friend, we don’t have the pleasure of knowing you!