"He had only his beautiful colors..." from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals 1832 - 1852

Curator: This lithograph by J. J. Grandville, dating from 1832 to 1852, is titled "\"He had only his beautiful colors...\" from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals." Editor: The mood is melancholic, certainly. The figure stands alone, weighed down somehow despite his fine attire. The crisp lines of the printmaking feel at odds with the implied sadness. Curator: It’s striking how Grandville anthropomorphizes animals to satirize human society. Look at the material details: the textures created by the lithographic crayon mimic the fabrics, and bring focus to the craftsmanship and means of production that made these widely accessible critiques of power. Editor: Absolutely. The context of 19th-century France, the rise of print culture, and political satire – it's all crucial. This print circulated widely. Grandville aimed to reach a broad public with imagery that held a mirror to the foibles and corruption of the ruling classes. He gave the public a lens through which to view, and maybe even question, those in power. Curator: And look at the details, those subtle lines constructing the form! He uses cross-hatching and varying line weights in ways only reproducible with lithographic crayon at the time to simulate different materials and values: the sheen of boots against the muted cloth of the cape. Think of the implications for industry, that the materials accessible now give rise to a specific cultural criticism! Editor: That anthropomorphism… is he consciously nodding to a tradition of fable and animal allegory that’s been a safe way of making political comment for centuries? This print suggests that power and beauty can be quite superficial. Curator: In closing, examining the print reminds us of the ways societal criticism thrives. Mass reproduction brings this art within reach and its cultural reach grows exponentially. Editor: Indeed. The melancholy lurking in that dapper animal suggests that art can deliver even difficult political truths with nuance and sophistication.