Tu 'entetes a jouer avec Monsieur c. 1829

Curator: This is a print by the artist known as Grandville, made around 1829. The full title is "Tu 'entetes a jouer avec Monsieur", part of the series “Les Metamorphoses du Jour”, and it’s rendered as a lithograph. Editor: It strikes me immediately as a strange, unsettling gathering! The figures with their animal heads, the slightly skewed perspective… it’s both amusing and rather discomforting. What exactly is going on here? Curator: Well, that's Grandville for you! He used these anthropomorphic characters to satirize the social and political elite of 19th-century France. This piece skewers their obsession with gambling. Editor: I see it now. The fox, perhaps representing cunning, playing cards... the bird with a monocle seems to represent high society in pursuit of material wealth with complete disregard to ethics. This points to a potent critique of wealth and corruption in France under Charles X, correct? Curator: Exactly. He wasn't just making funny pictures. He critiqued societal ills. You see that inscription, “En v'entites a jouer avec Monsieur, tu vois bien qu’il retourne le Roi a chaque coup.” It essentially accuses the King's players of always ensuring his win – highlighting political corruption. Editor: That makes the dog headed person sitting with his back towards us even more telling – is this someone pulling strings behind the scenes and the real subject of this painting? Curator: Perhaps. Remember, in the historical context, France had experienced radical political shifts. Grandville likely saw continuity in these elites' disregard for equality. Editor: Fascinating. The medium too, lithography. This was a more democratic form of printmaking at the time. The imagery coupled with its accessibility… it would have resonated widely. What an efficient visual polemic. Curator: Precisely. The print allows wider consumption and discussion of political issues, challenging power structures. That’s what makes it so powerful and relevant. Editor: Knowing the historical and social context enriches the work significantly; thank you. Curator: Indeed. These images speak volumes about a society grappling with power, ethics, and rapid change, much like our own.