Approval of the Safety-Chain, No. 2 1809 - 1872

This hand-colored etching, *Approval of the Safety-Chain, No. 2,* was created by Pierre Roch Vigneron, though the exact date is unknown. It provides a satirical comment on the social structures of post-revolutionary France. The image presents a caricature of a bourgeois man, identifiable by his dress and hat, struggling to hold up his trousers. The 'safety chain' mentioned in the title dangles uselessly beside him. Vigneron uses visual codes common in political cartoons of the time to critique the perceived excesses and anxieties of the middle class. The exaggerated features and precarious stance hint at a society destabilized by recent upheaval. Understanding this artwork requires delving into the political and economic conditions of early 19th-century France. Contemporary periodicals and pamphlets would offer insights into the debates around social mobility and class identity that shaped Vigneron's work. By studying these resources, we can better understand the public role of art as a form of social commentary and critique.