Author(s):
monnier, henry bonaventure (paris, 07–06–1799 - paris, 03–01–1877 — 3–6–1877), designer
bernard, charles louis (paris, 29–06–1769 - paris, 11–09–1848), printer-lithographer
giraldon-bovinet, editor
other title: les grisettes (title of the series)
date of production: 1827
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: vellum paper, watercolor, lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 28. 8cm
width: 21cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 14. 2cm
width: 10cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 22 from the series "les grisettes" by henry monnier, paris, giraldon et bovinet, 1827
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
inscription - above the image on the left: "grisettes" and on the right: "pl. 22" under the image on the left: "henry monnier" and on the right: "lith. De bernard" under the letter in the middle: "published by giraldon bovinet, passage vivienne, n°26"
caption - below the image: i'm going to get angry
iconographic description:
a very elegant man, wearing a top hat and a long cape lined with crimson velvet, grabs the arm of a young woman dressed simply. Actor, playwright and designer, henry monnier helped illustrate la comédie humaine. His engravings of administrative morals, and especially his play scenes from bureaucratic life, clearly inspired balzac for his novel la femme supérieure, renamed les employés. The same references to the customs of their time often inspired the two artists in parallel on numerous subjects as we can see in the following extract: "does an irritated husband come to promulgate his wishes? they look at him with a submissive air, lower their heads and remain silent. This pantomime almost always upsets a husband. In these kinds of marital struggles, a man prefers to hear a woman speak and defend herself; because then we get excited, we get angry; but these women, their silence worries you, and you carry a sort of remorse, like the murderer who, having found no resistance in his victim, feels a double fear. He would have wanted to murder against his will. [extract from the physiology of marriage, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-95. Date: 1827.
Loading...
