"The Opinion of these Ladies" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

This is "The Opinion of these Ladies," an undated lithograph by the French artist J. J. Grandville, made as an illustration for the collected works of the popular songwriter Béranger. Grandville’s satirical drawings often engaged with the social and political issues of 19th-century France, especially the values and tastes of the bourgeois classes. Here, three young women are depicted in conversation, likely at a social gathering. Their elaborate dresses and jewelry suggest a certain level of wealth and status. The image subtly critiques the superficiality and preoccupation with appearance that Grandville saw within this social stratum. To understand this work better, we might consult periodicals and fashion plates from the period to understand the visual codes of dress and social etiquette. It is by researching the social and institutional contexts that we come to see the artwork not just as a representation, but also as a form of commentary on its own time.