The Leeches, Messieurs, the Leeches! c. 1825

"The Leeches, Messieurs, the Leeches!" is a satirical hand-colored lithograph by Edmé Jean Pigal from c. 1825. The artwork depicts four men in fashionable attire standing around a sickbed. The image humorously critiques the social climbing and greed of the French aristocracy through the use of exaggerated figures and symbolic details. The inscription at the bottom, "Des sangs sucs, Messieurs, des sangs sucs!," further emphasizes the theme of blood-sucking behavior. This lithograph is an excellent example of the political satire that flourished in France during the early 19th century. The Art Institute of Chicago houses this artwork.