Eh! Bien Crois-Tu...les Peupliers.

Artists did not just depict labor; they were themselves workers, keenly aware of the need to make a living, particularly if they could not rely on family money. Those focusing on the commonplace rural and suburban landscapes around Paris using new, less “finished” painting techniques were especially anxious to increase their sales opportunities. Honoré Daumier humorously captures some of these concerns in this print depicting a group of landscape artists taking a break from painting outdoors to drink and discuss their wares.

The caption translates: “- So, do you think it will be difficult getting a good price for this sketch? - No . . . but you’ll need to find someone who is crazy about poplars.”