"A Banker" from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals 1832 - 1852

Here is the audio guide script: J.J. Grandville made "A Banker" using engraving, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate, then inked and pressed onto paper. The result is this precise, cross-hatched image. Look closely, and you'll notice how the fine lines create a sense of texture and depth, bringing out the banker's…well, turkey-like qualities. Grandville was a master of anthropomorphic satire. He imbued animals with human characteristics to poke fun at society. This print, with its meticulous lines and shading, critiques the bourgeoisie's obsession with wealth. The banker, depicted as a puffed-up turkey, clutches his hat and stands amidst bags of money, indifferent to the world around him. By using the graphic arts, Grandville democratized his critique, making it accessible to a wide audience. It's a clever reminder that the means of production, in this case engraving, can be just as critical as the message itself.