"As soon as I set foot on the island..." from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals 1832 - 1852

Curator: At first glance, this print appears rather comical—a group of animals acting out a scene. There's a playful quality to the draftsmanship. Editor: Indeed. This is J. J. Grandville's engraving, "As soon as I set foot on the island..." created sometime between 1832 and 1852. The image belongs to a larger series titled "Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals." It’s interesting to situate Grandville's work in its socio-political moment. France in the 1830s was experiencing significant upheaval; the July Revolution had just occurred, and there was great social unrest. Curator: Precisely! Given that context, the animal caricatures aren't simply whimsical, are they? It becomes clear that these anthropomorphized animals serve as biting commentary on the French bourgeoisie and the political elite of the time. Notice the central figures; we have an aardvark and what looks like a fox, both dressed in military-style coats, examining eggs in a basket. They exude an air of officialdom, don’t they? It evokes something absurd when they're behaving with officiality regarding things that are probably naturally handled without the official presence in the wild. Editor: Absolutely, their dress and rigid posture contrast humorously with their animal forms. If you consider Romanticism and the era’s anxieties about social order, it's really no wonder why we can view those concerns around corruption and the bureaucracy via these satirized animal figures. Also, note the crisp lines and meticulous details achieved through the engraving. This really underscores the satirical elements of the overall scene. Curator: Looking at it this way gives me more understanding of what lies in this composition as social criticism and makes me see something so ridiculous in people of power that can become that much obvious. What about you? Has it changed your impression on its technique now that it connects to all of that social background? Editor: Thinking of art within an historical context as always enriching, like this, encourages dialogue and a deeper understanding. We see that form does not exist in isolation; it interacts with and is shaped by the socio-political forces that are already there in a world filled with a very loud buzz.