"The Hunter and the Milkmaid" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

J.J. Grandville made this lithograph, "The Hunter and the Milkmaid," as an illustration for a collection of songs by the popular French poet Béranger. Born just after the French Revolution, Béranger's writing reflected the social unrest and political upheaval of 19th century France. This image presents a staged encounter between a hunter and a milkmaid, archetypes representing different strata of society. The hunter, with his rifle and dog, leans casually against a fence, while the milkmaid, burdened with her working clothes and gaze averted, seems less at ease. It highlights the gendered expectations of the time, where women were often confined to domestic roles. The scene is rendered with a delicate touch, but look closely and you will see the tensions and subtle power dynamics at play. In his work, Grandville excelled at caricatures, using them to critique the foibles of human nature and the injustices of society. This print reflects the personal and collective emotional experiences of a society in flux, inviting us to reflect on the ever-evolving narratives of identity, gender, and class.