Inkwell with Inverted Monkey 1881

Henri-Charles Guérard's 1881 satirical etching, "Inkwell with Inverted Monkey", depicts a scene of a dinner invitation, which is ironically rendered as a bloody mess, implying the potential for a chaotic gathering. The black ink drips from an inkwell, suggesting the ink-stained nature of the social circles depicted. This artwork highlights the artist's exploration of the dynamics of 19th-century Parisian society and the intricacies of its social interactions. The use of etching adds a distinct, textured quality to the work, capturing the humor and the biting social commentary of the artist.