Page:The illustrators of Montmartre.pdf/87



dealer who bursts in on the famishing artist and his starving wife and baby, and says — "I must have three Corots and a Diaz within six days — Madame, make him work!"

Then there is another delightful artist subject. The landlord breaks in on poor hard-working Pinceau. "Sir, you've made me call twenty times — you owe me seven quarters' rent, I tell you I've had enough of it!" "Gracious — is that all you've got to think about then," is the cool reply.

How beautiful in its simplicity and how exquisitely the curt legend " Rothschild," fits that drawing of the little ballet dancer who whispers the portentous name into the ear of her sister coryphée, the while the moneyed man behind the scenes passes them.

Once more, look at the husband stupefied at the bill which accompanies the host of packages in the midst of which he and his wife are standing. "What, what! two thousand seven hundred and fifty-three francs, forty five centimes! and all that 'so as to go away to the seaside for three weeks!" — "Well, yes, you are right, my dear, I will send back one of the umbrellas!"

These drawings are almost all executed with a thin, pin-point pen line, of even thickness throughout, and with flat tones of shading added by means of mechanically engraved dots. Forain, Vogel, and Willette, although their methods differ, are among the few