Les Métamorphoses du jour, No. 41 - Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard Grandville

A satirical hand-coloured lithograph from Grandville's 1829 series, Les Métamorphoses du jour, featuring anthropomorphic figures in a street scene.

This hand-coloured lithograph belongs to the series Les Métamorphoses du jour, a collection of satirical prints by the French illustrator Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard, known by his pseudonym Grandville. Published in 1829, the series employs anthropomorphism to critique the social and political climate of the Bourbon Restoration in France. By depicting human figures with the heads of animals, Grandville bypasses strict censorship laws of the period, allowing him to comment on the behaviour of the bourgeoisie and the urban working class.

In this specific plate, the artist presents a scene of conflict between two avian figures and a pig. The characters are dressed in the contemporary attire of the 1820s, complete with frock coats, waistcoats, and hats. The pig, hunched over and carrying a basket, rummages through refuse, while the two birds engage in a heated exchange. The caption below the image records their dialogue, adding a layer of narrative irony to the visual composition. The style is characteristic of Grandville's approach, which combines precise anatomical observation of animals with the expressive gestures of human actors.

The print reflects the artist's interest in the grotesque and the absurd, themes that would later inform his more surreal works. The composition is sparse, focusing the viewer's attention on the interaction between the three figures against a plain background. This minimalist approach ensures that the satirical intent remains clear, free from unnecessary distraction. As a piece of nineteenth-century graphic art, it provides insight into the visual culture of Paris, where such prints were widely circulated and discussed in public spaces. The work remains a significant example of how caricature was used to navigate the complexities of political discourse in early nineteenth-century Europe.