"The Flower Seller and the Undertaker" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

Editor: So, here we have J.J. Grandville's etching, engraving and lithograph "The Flower Seller and the Undertaker," created in 1836. It's a rather…stark image, the sharp lines lending a sense of coldness. The flower seller looks almost as grave as the undertaker himself. What jumps out at you? Curator: Well, isn't it a delightful dance with the macabre! Grandville, bless his whimsical soul, was rather fond of poking at societal norms, wasn’t he? To me, it speaks volumes about the interconnectedness of life and death, joy and sorrow—how they waltz together, whether we like it or not. Consider the flower seller, peddling fleeting beauty, while the undertaker deals in… well, endings. It's almost theatrical, wouldn't you say? Do you get a sense of social commentary? Editor: Absolutely, there's a definite contrast being highlighted, the flower seller representing beauty and life, placed next to the stark reality of the undertaker. It feels very deliberate. Curator: Deliberate as a carefully chosen coffin, my dear! Perhaps he’s hinting at the commercialization of both life and death? Both are trades, after all. One selling beauty for a fleeting moment, the other… offering a permanent service, so to speak. The composition too! The flower seller is rooted, while the undertaker appears ready to move on, carrying the burden. What kind of narrative do you think it’s creating? Editor: Hmmm, it feels almost like the undertaker is inevitable, lurking in the background even in the most beautiful moments. It makes you think. Curator: Precisely! Art should stir, shouldn't it? Grandville leaves us with this subtle disquiet, a gentle nudge towards contemplation of mortality and our own existence. I do love the frilliness! A moment to sit with an unsettling peace. What a fascinatingly dreadful combination, don’t you agree? Editor: It certainly is. It makes you see the mundane in a completely new light!