Kalkoen lokt vlinder met kaars 1829

This hand-colored lithograph was created in France by Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard Grandville. In it, we see a turkey attempting to lure a moth with a candle. Grandville produced social satires like this during the July Monarchy. He aimed to expose the foibles and hypocrisies of the bourgeoisie. His caricatures, in which animals act out human dramas, are a powerful form of social critique. Here, the turkey, a symbol of gluttony and foolishness, tries to entice the moth, representing vanity, with the fleeting allure of light. It's a commentary on the superficiality of social interactions and the dangers of being seduced by appearances. To fully understand Grandville's work, we have to consider the historical context, consulting sources such as newspapers, political pamphlets, and fashion magazines. Art is not created in a vacuum, it's a product of its time and a reflection of the social and institutional forces at play.