The Engagement of an Artist. “- So you want an engagement in my theatre..... very well Mademoiselle...... since you are so pretty, it will be 1200 Francs.... that's of course what you will be paying me each year! - I accept... under the condition that I will not get a raise!,” plate 72 from Les Beaux Jours De La Vie 1845

“The Engagement of an Artist” (1845) is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, depicting a humorous encounter between an artist and a woman. The image captures a satirical commentary on the social dynamics of art and money in 19th-century Paris. Daumier’s signature style of caricature is evident in the exaggerated features and expressions of the figures. This lithograph, part of the series *Les Beaux Jours de la Vie*, presents a witty observation of the artist’s life and his precarious relationship with patrons. The artist’s sharp gaze and the woman’s coy demeanor suggest a playful exchange, highlighting the tensions between ambition and financial realities within the artistic world.