"When we do not want to see the dawn rise, we do not care about a neighbor like that!" from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals 1837 - 1847

This lithograph was created by J. J. Grandville, a French caricaturist, and printed on paper. The printmaking technique he employed here allowed for relative ease of reproduction, which helped to disseminate his social and political commentary to a wide audience. Look closely, and you’ll see a dog asleep in its kennel, seemingly unbothered by the rooster serenading it from above. The fine lines that define the texture of the dog’s fur, the wood grain of the kennel, and even the musical score held by the rooster show the level of detail that Grandville was able to achieve through this medium. Consider the labor involved in creating this image, from the quarrying of the lithographic stone to the printing process itself. The artist’s craft and the printer’s skill were essential in translating Grandville's satirical vision into a tangible form, making social commentary accessible to a broad audience. In the end, it is the combined efforts of craftsmanship and industry that give this print its lasting impact.