Artwork

Mama, si tu ne peux pas garder de souliers ce n'est pas la peine d'avoir fait fortune

Hermann Paul , 1924

Mama, si tu ne peux pas garder de souliers ce n'est pas la peine d'avoir fait fortune is a print by Hermann Paul. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1925.1046
Credit line: Dudley P. Allen Fund

About this work

Overview

Created around 1924, this print by Hermann Paul bears the lengthy French title that translates to a caution about wealth and footwear. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among the museum’s early twentieth‑century prints.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents two women within an interior space. A seated figure, dressed in a hat and dress, looks downward, while a standing companion, adorned with a necklace, mirrors her gaze. The title’s admonitory tone suggests a commentary on material concerns, perhaps contrasting domestic modesty with financial success.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, the image employs clear lines and a limited tonal palette to delineate the brick wall, patterned floor, and window with curtain. The flatness of the figures and the simplified background reflect the modernist tendencies of the 1920s, emphasizing form over detailed realism.

History & Provenance

The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, though precise details of its earlier ownership remain undocumented. Its presence in the museum underscores the institution’s commitment to representing European printmaking of the interwar period.

Context

Hermann Paul was active in the early twentieth century, a period marked by experimentation in graphic arts across Europe. Prints like this one often explored everyday scenes with a subtle social edge, aligning with contemporary movements that questioned bourgeois values.