"The oldest rabbit jumped respectfully on his grandfather's lap..." from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals 1832 - 1852

This lithograph was created by J. J. Grandville in France as part of his "Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals." The image depicts rabbits in a domestic scene, with the eldest rabbit sitting on his grandfather's lap. But why depict animals acting like humans? Grandville was a key figure in the development of French political caricature. His animal imagery was more than just whimsical; it was a way to satirize the social and political mores of the July Monarchy. France at this time was a deeply conservative society, where strict rules of etiquette and hierarchy were enforced. Grandville used the visual codes of animal representation to critique these norms. By showing rabbits in human poses, he was able to satirize the pomposity and artificiality of bourgeois life. To fully understand this piece and Grandville's wider project, research into the history of French caricature, animal studies, and the politics of the July Monarchy would be extremely useful.