Artwork
Mama, si tu ne peux pas garder de souliers ce n'est pas la peine d'avoir fait fortune
Mama, si tu ne peux pas garder de souliers ce n'est pas la peine d'avoir fait fortune is a print by Hermann-Paul. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created around 1924, this print by Hermann Paul bears the lengthy French title that translates to a caution about wealth and footwear.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1924, this print by Hermann Paul bears the lengthy French title that translates to a caution about wealth and footwear. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among the museum’s early twentieth‑century prints.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents two women within an interior space. A seated figure, dressed in a hat and dress, looks downward, while a standing companion, adorned with a necklace, mirrors her gaze. The title’s admonitory tone suggests a commentary on material concerns, perhaps contrasting domestic modesty with financial success.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the image employs clear lines and a limited tonal palette to delineate the brick wall, patterned floor, and window with curtain. The flatness of the figures and the simplified background reflect the modernist tendencies of the 1920s, emphasizing form over detailed realism.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, though precise details of its earlier ownership remain undocumented. Its presence in the museum underscores the institution’s commitment to representing European printmaking of the interwar period.
Context
Hermann Paul was active in the early twentieth century, a period marked by experimentation in graphic arts across Europe. Prints like this one often explored everyday scenes with a subtle social edge, aligning with contemporary movements that questioned bourgeois values.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
René Georges Hermann-Paul (27 December 1864 – 23 June 1940) was a French artist. He was born in Paris and died in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. He was a well-known illustrator whose work appeared in numerous newspapers and…
L'Inspecteur Général Revizor
La Brebis; Le Tandem
Les petits machines à écrire
Milliners (Modistes)
Laboratoire
You are sure my dear that you cannot think of anything more to help the pain?
It is the Table on Which the Treaty of Versailles was Signed
Moi! je tiens le sabre, et le goupillon; toi la faucille, le marteau et ler pastel. C'est la barbe.
