Artwork
I Have Three Sous!
I Have Three Sous! is a print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1925.1018
- Credit line
- Dudley P. Allen Fund
About this work
Overview
The figure's grumpy demeanor suggests a cynical awareness of his limited means, serving as a pointed commentary on the disparity between wealth and poverty.
Honoré Daumier's 1839 lithograph 'I Have Three Sous!' (J'ai trois sous!) is a satirical print created for the French newspaper Le Charivari. The work depicts a solitary, scowling male figure wearing a top hat and holding three small coins in his hand.
Executed with Daumier's characteristic loose, expressive line work, the composition isolates the subject against a stark white background, focusing attention on his sharp, angular facial features and sullen expression. The title and the specific number of coins reference the French monetary system of the era, where the sou was a low-value denomination. Daumier produced this piece to critique social stratification in Paris, mocking the pretensions of the bourgeoisie while highlighting the economic realities of the working class.
The figure's grumpy demeanor suggests a cynical awareness of his limited means, serving as a pointed commentary on the disparity between wealth and poverty. This lithograph exemplifies Daumier's role as a sharp social observer during the July Monarchy, utilizing the mass medium of print to deliver political and social criticism. It remains a significant example of his ability to capture the psychological depth of ordinary Parisians within a simplified, graphic format.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a sharply featured man in a top hat, his expression severe, clutching three small coins. The three sous are a visual reference to the French monetary system of the period and serve to ridicule affluent Parisians who ostentatiously displayed their prosperity.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work relies on stark contrasts: a plain white field isolates the figure, emphasizing his angry visage and the gleam of the coins. The bold line work and limited palette are characteristic of the artist’s satirical prints.
History & Provenance
Created for Le Charivari, the print circulated widely among the paper’s readership, contributing to the broader critique of bourgeois excess in early‑19th‑century France. It later entered museum collections, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued among Daumier’s political series.
Context
The lithograph belongs to a period when Honoré Daumier produced numerous caricatures targeting social and political issues. Its focus on wealth display aligns with other works that lampoon the pretensions of the Parisian elite during the July Monarchy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier (French: ; 26 February 1808 – 10 or 11 February 1879) was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the…
