☙ Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux - Tome II

1842 - Grandville

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☙ Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux - Tome II

Published in 1842 by Jules Hetzel and his associate Paulin, the Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux stands as one of the monuments of 19th-century French illustrated publishing. This second volume — the precious bibliographic distinction of which is that it is a first printing — closes an editorial project as ambitious as it was original: to offer the public a satire of contemporary society through the prism of animal anthropomorphism. Behind this project stands Jules Hetzel himself, who signed several texts under the pseudonym P.-J. Stahl and surrounded himself with the most celebrated writers of his time — Honoré de Balzac, George Sand, Alfred de Musset, Charles Nodier, Jules Janin, and many others — to bring to life a gallery of animal characters as amusing as they are merciless. But it is Jean-Jacques Grandville (1803–1848), an illustrator of genius, who was entrusted with the task of giving a face to this human comedy disguised as a bestiary. His wood engravings, of unparalleled inventiveness and expressiveness, would secure the work's lasting fame and, nearly a century later, inspire the Surrealists, chief among them Max Ernst.

Why add it to your collection?

An emblematic work by Grandville

Original illustrations and high-quality engravings

Rarity and first edition

Heritage and aesthetic value

A universal and timeless read

Description

Work Context

Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux (full title: Les Métamorphoses du Jour – Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux) is a two-volume work published in Paris by Michaud & Fils starting in 1842. It falls within the critical and burlesque vein that characterizes 19th-century satirical Romanticism. Grandville transposes the shortcomings and hypocrisies of human society into a world of speaking and acting animals, offering a social satire as corrosive as it is elegant.

Visual Content and Iconography

Volume II is distinguished by a series of engraved illustrations, each scene representing animals in human situations—balls, political assemblies, ceremonies, domestic scenes, or professional activities. These plates of exceptional finesse combine:

* A subtle anthropomorphization of animal characters
* A richness of iconographic detail
* A keen sense of staging and composition
* An implicit, often biting, social critique

The engravings are carefully printed, generally on high-quality paper, which gives the work considerable visual and heritage appeal.

Structure of the Work

Unlike a strictly narrative book, the volume is presented as a series of thematic scenes, often without text other than captions or illustration titles. Each vignette functions as a visual mini-fable, playing on irony, caricature, and exaggeration to reveal human flaws.

The sections of Volume II notably cover:
* Social assemblies and institutions
* Private and public behaviors of animal-men
* Ceremonies, festivals, and entertainment
* Human professions and activities transposed to the animal kingdom

Quality of the Edition This 1842 first edition was printed in Paris by one of the century's leading publishers, Michaud & Fils, featuring: * High-quality steel or wood engravings * Well-preserved paper (often with a natural patina) * Period binding, often half-binding or full leather * Original printing, highly sought after by collectors

Historical and Artistic Importance Grandville is recognized today as a precursor to modern illustration, comics, and social caricature. His works influenced artists such as Lewis Carroll, Maurice Sendak, and Tardi. Volume II of Scènes... perfectly illustrates this graphic inventiveness and ironic gaze on society, making it an object of study as much as a rare collector's item.

Why This Volume is Sought After:

Artistic originality and graphic humor

Major piece in the history of satirical illustration

Print quality and preservation of the engravings

Strong heritage value for bibliophiles and collectors

Cultural testimony of 19th-century Paris

An emblematic work by Grandville This volume perfectly illustrates the genius of Grandville, master of 19th-century anthropomorphism and social satire, combining humor, irony, and graphic finesse.

Original illustrations and high-quality engravings

Each scene is represented by detailed and expressive line or steel engravings, making each plate a work of art in its own right.

Rarity and first edition

Published in Paris in 1842 by Michaud & Fils, the volume is a first edition copy, highly sought after by collectors and bibliophiles.

Heritage and aesthetic value

Period binding, quality paper, and the preservation of the engravings grant this work significant historical and aesthetic value, ideal for enriching any collection of rare books.

A universal and timeless read
Beyond 19th-century satire, the human themes and behaviors transposed onto animals remain modern and captivating, offering a unique cultural and artistic testimony.

Mark it for later — it might just be waiting for you!

One collector is watching this piece.