"The studies are painful, expensive; but the students are intrepid" from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals 1832 - 1852

"The studies are painful, expensive; but the students are intrepid" is a lithograph from J.J. Grandville’s Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals series, a collection of satirical illustrations that depict anthropomorphized animals engaged in human activities. This particular piece shows a crow, dressed in a waistcoat and trousers, striding confidently down the street. Grandville’s work is known for its wit and social commentary; in this illustration, the crow, representing a student, is likely commenting on the struggles and rewards of education, a theme that resonates with audiences both in the 19th century and today.