Théodore de Banville got his start as a poet with a novel book of poetry, : Les Cariatides (1842). Well-received by the younger literary crowd, it was followed by Stalactites (1846). His Odes funambulesques (Tightwalking Odes) didn’t come out until 1857, but in between, a great number of his poems were published in small journals. His impeccable versification, intertwining whimsy and an Aristophanes-like taste for caricature and comedy, were greatly admired. Nonetheless, he ironically begged Nadar, “If you have any humanity left, please do not allow the words whimsy or fanciful into my caption. I am not fanciful! Nor Bohemian! Nor realistic! Nor Romantic! Nor classical! Nor ‘Jeune France.’ I am just an honest, opulent, well-educated and perfectly brilliant citizen.”
Théodore de Banville defended a very pure and elevated conception of poetic inspiration. Nadar, who had known this friend of Baudelaire's since his youth, was poking fun at how difficult it is to reconcile that timless ideal with the realities of modern life.