Author(s):
grandville (nancy, 15–09–1803 - vanves, 17–03–1847), designer
bulla, joseph, editor
langlumé, pierre (poitiers, 1790 - 1830)
other title: the metamorphoses of the day (title of the series)
production date: between 1828 and 1829
type(s) of object(s): graphic arts, print
name(s): print
materials and techniques: lithography
dimensions - artwork:
height: 26. 5cm
width: 36. 4cm
dimensions - image:
height: 16cm
width: 18. 1cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 40cm
marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
signature - j. Grandville
letter - the metamorphoses of the day n°44
letter - attraction system
registration - at bulla, rue st jacques n°38, and at martinet, rue du coq. Inscription - lith. By langlumé
iconographic description:
in a room, at night, there are a man and a woman. In the background, we can see the canopy of a bed, as well as an armchair. Between the two protagonists is drawn a desk on which there is a lit candle, a handwritten document, and an open box. The man is wearing a nightcap and is dressed in a nightgown, he has the face of a rooster. With a gesture, he points to the bed behind him and hands a small purse probably full of coins to the young woman who rushes to grab it. She has the face of a moth, she is dressed in a hat with large ruffles which, as they unfold behind her, seem to form wings. Excerpt from métamorphoses du jour (published by gustave havard libraire, paris, 1854): "mysterious law which this libertine old man obeys when he hands this young girl, as greedy and as light as the moth, the purse of gold at the bottom of which she must find the loss of his virtue and the death of his honor. Attraction!. . . This is the name of the phenomenon [. . . ] love, desire, happiness, ambition, pleasure: attraction always attraction!
themes / subjects / places represented:
social subject, morals, night, rooster, bombyx, prostitution
mode of acquisition: purchase
date of acquisition: 21–02–1986
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal925(ba). Date: Entre 1828 et 1829.
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