"We will be at your door at noon without fail." from the Little Miseries of Human Life 1843

Curator: Looking at this image, I feel like I'm eavesdropping on a story, maybe one with a somewhat tragic end. Editor: It does have that feeling, doesn't it? The print before us is called "We will be at your door at noon without fail," an 1843 creation by J.J. Grandville, and is part of a series known as the 'Little Miseries of Human Life'. It is on display here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: “Miseries,” ah, the 19th-century loved their melodrama! So, the chap carrying the precarious mountain of luggage - he embodies that perfectly. Do you get a sense he's bending beneath the weight of something more than just those trunks? Editor: Absolutely. He becomes a modern-day Atlas burdened by circumstance. And then notice those trunks are almost comically large compared to the figures, exaggerating a looming disruption that extends to the man receiving them in the doorway. The looming figure is almost ghastly with those sunken cheeks and high widow's peak! Curator: I see a dark specter alright. The looming deadline or unavoidable difficulty looming like a ghost. You almost expect something supernatural to leap from one of the trunks. Do you feel there's a hint of social critique embedded in it too? Editor: Oh, without a doubt. Grandville frequently satirized the bourgeoisie, critiquing social ambition, materialism, and the anxieties they created. I suspect he’s tapping into the dread many felt when dealing with, say, debt collectors or some similarly grim promise of disruption. That dog nipping at the man's heels is so desperate to make its own mark too. Curator: A canine representation of persistent worry maybe? Or the annoying obligations nipping away at our peace. It is amazing that Grandville makes such effective use of symbolism within such a humble medium - drawing and printmaking. He weaves layers of meaning using a subtle, accessible method. Editor: It just shows us that artistic profundity doesn't always demand grand canvases and elaborate techniques. Sometimes the smallest, most relatable moment carries the deepest weight. We recognize that the fear of impending arrivals, be it unwanted guests or unavoidable responsibilities, are almost as present today. Curator: Exactly! As always, visiting Grandville is akin to opening a strangely profound fortune cookie! Editor: Very much so, thank you for taking me into that thought provoking world today.