"Friends, the wise one places his glory in eating well" fromScenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals 1832 - 1852

This lithograph, "Friends, the wise one places his glory in eating well", comes from J.J. Grandville’s series, "Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals". Produced in 19th-century France, the series reflects the era's fascination with science, evolution, and the representation of human traits in the animal kingdom. Grandville's work cleverly uses animals to satirize human society, and in this piece, alligators, dressed in human clothes, gather for a banquet in front of Egyptian monuments. The setting and the animals' attire provide a biting commentary on class, colonialism, and cultural appropriation. By framing the alligators within an Egyptian context, Grandville references France’s fascination with Egypt, particularly after Napoleon’s campaigns. This allows Grandville to question French society’s values and customs under the guise of animal behavior. The emotional effect is unsettling, isn’t it? The alligators' human-like actions disrupt our expectations, prompting reflection on what truly distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Grandville thus prompts a dialogue about identity, society, and the complexities of human existence.