"Poniatowski" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

Editor: This etching, "Poniatowski" from The Complete Works of Béranger by J. J. Grandville, was made in 1836. The drama of the scene really jumps out—the central figure on horseback seems to be leading others in the background into what could be a disastrous military campaign. What kind of commentary do you think Grandville is offering here? Curator: It is worth considering the context of Grandville's Romantic style in 19th-century France, especially how historical narratives become fodder for political expression. Who was Poniatowski, and why choose him as a subject? He was a Polish prince and Marshal of France, a key figure in the Napoleonic Wars, dying while covering the French retreat. Editor: So, selecting Poniatowski, a Polish hero fighting for Napoleon, suggests the print isn’t just about military action, but something about Franco-Polish relations or Napoleon's legacy? Curator: Precisely. And note the medium—an engraving meant for wide distribution in a published volume. What public role might this image have played in shaping perceptions of French history and national identity? Was Grandville valorizing Poniatowski or critiquing the human cost of war? Consider too, how the romanticized depiction of military leaders could be perceived differently across various segments of French society during that time. Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. The fact that this image was made for a book of Béranger’s complete works gives me a lot to consider, about not just the subject matter, but how ideas about heroism were being portrayed. Curator: Exactly. Context transforms our reading.