Nos Jolies Parisiennes (The Pretty Women of Paris)
Paris: Au Bureau du Charivari et Chez Martinet, 1860. Item #06054
Parisian Beauties, Expensive Tastes, and Dangerous Flirtations!
Twenty-Nine Fine Lithographs by Charles-Édouard de Beaumont
A Delightful Satirical Portrait of the Pretty Women of Second Empire Paris
BEAUMONT, Charles-Édouard de. Nos Jolies Parisiennes [Our Pretty Parisian Women]. Album par Édouard de Beaumont. Paris: Au Bureau du Charivari et Chez Martinet, [1859].
Folio (13 3/8 x 10 1/8 inches; 340 x 257 mm.). Pictorial lithographed title-page and twenty-nine fine lithographic plates, comprising twenty-eight different subjects from a series of thirty. The lithograph numbered 46 is present in duplicate, appearing as the seventh and twentieth plates in this copy; two subjects are therefore lacking. The plates exceptionally clean and fresh throughout.
Publisher's original pictorial yellow glazed boards. Front joint cracked but endpaper holding sound. An unusually clean and attractive copy, preserved in its original publisher's binding.
A wonderfully entertaining collection of lithographic caricatures depicting the fashionable, flirtatious, extravagant, and frequently mischievous women of Second Empire Paris.
In Nos Jolies Parisiennes, Charles-Édouard de Beaumont casts his delightfully irreverent eye over the pleasures and indiscretions of Parisian society. His elegant heroines inhabit a world of fashionable entertainments, masked balls, expensive restaurants, seaside resorts, wealthy admirers, and extravagant presents. Beautifully dressed and invariably quick-witted, they are frequently more than a match for the unfortunate gentlemen who fall under their spell.
Each lithograph is accompanied by a humorous dialogue, transforming these charming compositions into miniature comedies of manners. The subjects range from romantic misunderstandings and matrimonial deceptions to the more practical considerations of jewelry, cashmere shawls, and five-hundred-franc banknotes.
In one particularly amusing scene, an ageing beauty laments that men no longer make fools of themselves over her. When a younger companion assures her that she might still attract an admirer, she anxiously asks whom. The devastating reply: "A collector of antiquities, of course!"
Elsewhere, a disappointed young woman complains that her lover, asked to provide a present for her name day, has sent her nothing more valuable than his portrait. Another discovers that the supposed Spanish nobleman she encountered at a masked ball was actually an English creditor whom she had successfully avoided for six months.
One particularly resourceful young lady, suffering from influenza, persuades her doctor that a prescription for a costly cashmere shawl would be infinitely preferable to an ordinary cloak, especially as the expense will fall upon her husband.
Beneath their apparently frivolous subject matter, these delightful lithographs reveal much about the relationship between men and women in nineteenth-century Paris, particularly the importance of fashion, financial security, social standing, and the elaborate games of courtship and deception.
Charles-Édouard de Beaumont (1819–1888) was one of the most prolific French caricaturists and lithographers of the nineteenth century. His work appeared extensively in Le Charivari and other illustrated journals, and he contributed illustrations to numerous literary publications, including Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris. A gifted painter and watercolorist as well as a lithographer, he was among the founders of the Société des Aquarellistes Français in 1879.
His treatment of fashionable Parisian life reflects the influence of Paul Gavarni, whose celebrated caricatures of women, society, and the pleasures of the capital had established a distinctive tradition of social satire. Beaumont's own compositions, however, display a particularly lively combination of elegant draughtsmanship, theatrical expression, and sharp conversational wit.
Nos Jolies Parisiennes was published by the Bureau du Charivari and Maison Martinet in 1859, a date confirmed by the legal-deposit stamp on a surviving lithographed title-page in the Musée Carnavalet, Paris. Although related in subject to Beaumont's earlier Les Jolies Femmes de Paris (Aubert, 1846), it is a separate album, rather than a later edition of that work.
A highly attractive example of French social caricature, retaining its original pictorial yellow boards and presenting a delightful panorama of the fashions, flirtations, and foibles of nineteenth-century Paris.
Colas 259; Lipperheide 3565.
List of Twenty-Nine Lithographs with English Translations:
1. Le Monsieur. Quel est ce jeune homme que je viens de rencontrer sur l'escalier, et qui sort d'ici?... La Petite Dame (à part). Ah! diable! (haut). Gustave, ne sois pas jaloux…
English: The Gentleman: "Who is that young man I just met on the staircase, coming out of here?"
The Young Lady (aside): "Oh, the devil!"
(Aloud): "Gustave, don't be jealous…"
2. Comment, une femme qui se respecte peut-elle venir ici déguisée en débardeur!... T'es encore bien plus déguisée que moi, puisque tu t'es mise en femme du monde!...
English: "Really! How can a self-respecting woman come here dressed as a dockworker!"
"You're much more disguised than I am, seeing as you've dressed yourself up as a respectable lady of society!"
3. Dis-donc, si ces messieurs qui nous ont donné rendez-vous ici n'allaient pas venir…, que ferions-nous?... C'est bien simple, nous souperions sans eux!...
English: "Tell me, what shall we do if those gentlemen who arranged to meet us here don't turn up?"
"That's simple enough. We'll have supper without them!"
4. Charmant postillon…, je t'offre mon cœur!... Que les hommes sont stupides!... Ils ne savent qu'offrir leur cœur… comme si une femme pouvait vivre avec ça!...
English: "Charming postilion, I offer you my heart!"
"How stupid men are! All they ever think of offering is their hearts… as though a woman could live on that!"
5. Oui, ma petite… les hommes ont fait des folies pour moi… ah! Que les temps sont changés!... Mais, mame Chaffaroux… ne vous désolez pas…, vous pourrez encore plaire… Vous croyez… et à qui donc?... À un amateur d'antiquités…, parbleu!...
English: "Yes, my dear… men used to do the most extraordinary things for me! Ah, how times have changed!"
"But Madame Chaffaroux, don't despair. You could still attract admirers!"
"You think so? And who might they be?"
"A collector of antiquities, of course!"
6. Mlle Nina pose les anges, les grâces et les vertus à quatre francs la séance… (Nota: Les péchés capitaux se payent à part, on traite de gré à gré.)
English: "Mademoiselle Nina poses as angels, graces, and virtues at four francs a sitting. (Note: The seven deadly sins are charged separately; prices are negotiable.)"
7. Tu sais…, hier le baron m'a offert ses services. Oui…, et que lui dis-tu dans ta lettre?...
English: "You know, yesterday the Baron offered me his services."
"Really? And what are you saying to him in your letter?"
Note: This is the same lithograph, numbered 46, as plate 20 below, where the full caption is given.
8. Quel plaisir trouves-tu à fumer de l'opium?... Je fais des songes charmants…, je rêve que j'habite encore mon village, que je suis une honnête jeune fille et qu'on me couronne rosière!...
English: "What pleasure do you find in smoking opium?"
"I have the most delightful dreams! I dream that I'm back in my village, that I'm still an innocent young girl, and that I'm being crowned the village's most virtuous maiden!"
9. Voyons, madame, voulez-vous que je vous plonge tout-à-fait dans l'eau?... Non, il me suffit de me tremper les jambes…, je viens prendre des bains de mer pour me fortifier les jarrets…
English: "Come now, madam, would you like me to immerse you completely in the water?"
"No, it's quite enough for me to get my legs wet. I come for sea bathing to strengthen my legs!"
10. Ma chère amie…, je viens te faire mes adieux, je vais voyager…, mais comme je ne veux pas faire dépenser de l'argent à Paul qui n'en a pas, je porte, à son insu, quelque chose au mont-de-piété!...
English: "My dear friend, I've come to say goodbye. I'm going travelling… but since I don't want Paul, who has no money, to have to spend anything, I'm taking something to the pawnbroker without his knowing!"
11. Si on allait prendre nos vêtements?... Nous irions tout de suite porter notre plainte à monsieur le Maire.
English: "What if we went to fetch our clothes?"
"We'd go straight off and lodge a complaint with the Mayor!"
12. Ce jeune homme qui vous suit toujours, m'a prié de vous monter cette lettre… et il m'a promis dix francs si je lui rapportais une bonne réponse…
English: "That young gentleman who is always following you asked me to bring you this letter… and he promised me ten francs if I brought him back a favourable answer!"
13. Pourquoi portez-vous des robes si longues?... C'est pour qu'on marche dessus. Je ne comprends pas!...
English: "Why do you wear your dresses so long?"
"So that people will tread on them!"
"I don't understand!"
14. Comment, madame Chaffaroux!... On apporte une lettre pour moi, c'était une invitation à dîner pour le lendemain, et vous me la remettez trois jours après!...
English: "Really, Madame Chaffaroux! A letter arrives for me, inviting me to dinner the following day, and you don't give it to me until three days later!"
15. Votre cadeau est charmant… mais j'aime mieux les boucles d'oreilles que les bagues!... Oh!... que je suis donc fâché!...
English: "Your present is charming… but I much prefer earrings to rings!"
"Oh, how very sorry I am!"
16. Je dis à Jules de me donner quelque chose pour ma fête, et il m'envoie son portrait… comprends-tu ça?...
English: "I asked Jules to give me something for my name day, and he sends me his portrait! Can you imagine that?"
17. Je viens de toucher mes loyers et je te réserve ce billet de cinq cents francs pour t'acheter un joli châle dans quelque temps…, si tu es bien gentille!...
English: "I've just collected my rents, and I'm putting aside this five-hundred-franc note so that you can buy yourself a pretty shawl in a little while… provided you're very good!"
18. Pardon, madame…, je désirerais parler à monsieur Grandet. Il est à la campagne… mais je suis sa femme…, et comme je connais toutes ses affaires, je pourrai peut-être le remplacer?...
English: "Excuse me, madam, but I should like to speak to Monsieur Grandet."
"He's in the country… but I'm his wife, and since I know all his affairs, perhaps I could take his place?"
19. Mon cher ami…, je ne sais pas où nous irons cet été… je balance entre les bains de mer et Bade… je suis bien embarrassée!...
English: "My dear friend, I simply don't know where we shall go this summer. I'm torn between the seaside and Baden-Baden. I'm in such a quandary!"
20. Tu sais…, hier le baron m'a offert ses services. Oui…, et que lui dis-tu dans ta lettre?... Qu'il ne se dépouille pas pour moi et qu'il m'en envoie seulement un de dessert en porcelaine de Sèvres!... Mais, il t'a offert ses services, pour te faire rentrer à l'Opéra… Tu es stupide!... Je le sais bien…, mais j'aurai l'air de ne pas avoir compris!...
English: "You know, yesterday the Baron offered me his services."
"Really? And what are you saying to him in your letter?"
"That he mustn't impoverish himself on my account, and that he should merely send me a Sèvres porcelain dessert service!"
"But he offered his services to help you get back into the Opera!"
"You're an idiot! I know that perfectly well… but I'll pretend I misunderstood him!"
Note: Duplicate impression of lithograph no. 46, also appearing as plate 7.
21. LE PIERROT RÊVANT. Comment, féroce propriétaire… tu n'as pas honte de m'augmenter encore?... LE DÉBARDEUR. Sont-ils stupides de dormir pour rêver qu'ils sont augmentés!... Ma foi… c'est bien la peine de venir souper à la Maison d'Or, pour faire des rêves pareils!...
English: The Dreaming Pierrot: "What! You ferocious landlord! Aren't you ashamed of raising my rent yet again?"
The Dockworker: "How stupid people are, going to sleep only to dream that their rents are being raised! Really, what's the point of coming to supper at the Maison Dorée if you're going to have dreams like that!"
22. Eh! bien… vous êtes gentil vous!... Je pose pour un de vos tableaux et vous me représentez me laissant embrasser par un homme qui a des pieds de cheval!...
English: "Well, that's very nice of you, I must say! I pose for one of your paintings, and you portray me allowing myself to be kissed by a man with horse's hooves!"
23. Le baron, mon maître…, m'envoie vous demander s'il peut vous apporter tantôt la parure dont vous aviez envie… Dites-lui qu'il n'a pas besoin de se déranger et qu'il envoie tout simplement cette parure…
English: "The Baron, my master, has sent me to ask whether he may bring you the jewellery set you were admiring this afternoon."
"Tell him there's no need for him to trouble himself. He can simply send the jewellery!"
24. Mon ami…, une de mes amies, qui a voyagé en Suisse, et qui sait très bien dessiner, vient de m'envoyer un album où elle a représenté toutes les plus belles vues de ce pays!... Oh! Elle est bien aimable!... Au moins de cette façon, nous n'aurons pas besoin d'aller voir la Suisse l'année prochaine; comme tu me l'avais demandé…
English: "My dear, one of my friends, who has travelled in Switzerland and draws beautifully, has sent me an album in which she's depicted all the finest views of the country!"
"Oh, how very kind of her! At least this way we shan't need to go and see Switzerland next year, as you were asking me to do!"
25. Ma chère, je te conseille de ne jamais donner ton adresse à un homme masqué. Pourquoi ça?... Au dernier bal…, un bel Espagnol orné d'une petite tunique abricot et un grand nez en carton m'a suppliée de lui dire où je demeurais, j'ai eu la folie d'y consentir, et le lendemain, au lieu de recevoir la visite d'un noble étranger, j'ai vu arriver un créancier que j'étais parvenue à dépister depuis six mois… mon Espagnol était un Anglais!!!...
English: "My dear, I advise you never to give your address to a masked gentleman."
"Why ever not?"
"At the last ball, a handsome Spaniard wearing a little apricot-coloured tunic and a large cardboard nose begged me to tell him where I lived. I was foolish enough to agree. And the following day, instead of receiving a visit from a noble foreigner, who should arrive but a creditor I'd managed to evade for six months! My Spaniard was an Englishman!"
26. Qu'as-tu donc Coralie…, t'as l'air tout chose?... Parce que j'ai reçu trois invitations à souper de trois messieurs très bien et je ne sais auquel donner la préférence!... Franchement…, tu ne peux pas souper trois fois dans une nuit. C'est bien ce qui me contrarie… (Soupirant) Ah! c'est dans ces circonstances que l'on reconnaît la faiblesse de la nature humaine!...
English: "Whatever's the matter, Coralie? You look quite out of sorts!"
"It's because I've received three invitations to supper from three very distinguished gentlemen, and I simply don't know which to accept!"
"Well, frankly, you can't have supper three times in one night!"
"That's precisely what's upsetting me!"
(Sighing): "Ah! It's on occasions like these that one truly appreciates the frailty of human nature!"
27. Ça ne sera rien… c'est la grippe… il faudra bien vous couvrir si vous sortez… N'est-ce pas docteur?... Aussi dans la petite ordonnance que vous me ferez, recommandez à mon mari de m'acheter un cachemire!... Oh! votre manteau fera le même effet… Du tout…, du tout…, il n'y a qu'un cachemire qui couvre bien une femme!...
English: "It's nothing serious… just influenza. You'll need to wrap yourself up warmly whenever you go out."
"Isn't that so, Doctor? And in the little prescription you're going to write for me, do recommend that my husband buy me a cashmere shawl!"
"Oh, your cloak will do just as well!"
"Not at all! Not at all! Nothing covers a woman properly like a cashmere shawl!"
28. Voici un jeune homme qui vient de m'envoyer un bouquet… dois-je l'accepter?... Non, renvoie-le… il ne faut pas se compromettre…
English: "Here's a young man who's just sent me a bouquet. Ought I to accept it?"
"No, send it back. One mustn't compromise one's reputation!"
29. La renommée de Rigolboche m'empêche de dormir!... Tu voudrais faire parler de toi?...
English: "Rigolboche's fame is keeping me awake at night!"
"You'd like people to talk about you, would you?"
Collation note: Twenty-nine lithographic plates, representing twenty-eight distinct compositions. Lithograph numbered 46 appears twice (plates 7 and 20 in this copy). Two subjects are therefore absent from the thirty-subject series.
Price: $1,500.00