Ezelin bestelt bij eend in kruidenierswinkel 1829

Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard Grandville made this lithograph, "Ezelin bestelt bij eend in kruidenierswinkel", though no date is recorded. It is made using lithography, a printmaking process allowing for intricate line work and tonal variation. Grandville's prints often feature anthropomorphic characters, animals with human traits, highlighting the inherent absurdity of social conventions. This technique, common in satirical prints, invites us to consider the relationship between labor, class, and social roles, with the characters acting out a scene in a grocery shop. The donkey, dressed in an apron, represents a working-class figure, while the duck is a shopkeeper, grinding spices in a pestle and mortar. The lithographic process itself is labor-intensive, demanding the skills of a draughtsman and printer. By portraying labor in this satirical context, Grandville invites viewers to think about the work involved in all aspects of daily life, from the production of goods to the act of social exchange. Ultimately, this seemingly lighthearted scene provokes deeper reflections on the materials, labor, and social dynamics that shape our world.