Henri Daniel Plattel, Macedonia, No. 22 Hey!, 19th Century, Lithograph

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Lithograph on paper, France, mid-19th century. Signed in the plate. A finely executed satirical lithograph from the celebrated French series … Read more Lithograph on paper, France, mid-19th century. Signed in the plate. A finely executed satirical lithograph from the celebrated French series Macédoine, published in Paris by Aubert & Cie and printed/distributed by Chez Bauger. It is a classic example of French July Monarchy-era social satire. The comedic punchline relies entirely on the rapid dialogue exchange printed at the bottom: — "Dis donc! dis donc! et moi? tu me laisse rien!" — "Si fait, je te laisse payer." (Translation: — "Hey! Hey! What about me? You're leaving me nothing!" / — "Not at all, I'm leaving you to pay the bill.") The humor captures a timeless piece of tavern betrayal. The greedy companion drains every ounce of alcohol from the communal pitchers, completely ignoring his friend's thirst. When called out for leaving absolutely "nothing" behind, he delivers a sharp, cynical retort: he is leaving something behind—the entire financial obligation for the drinks. The print expertly skewers the selfish, untrustworthy dynamics that often occurred among drinking buddies in 1840s Paris. Very good condition. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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