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
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: 27. 8cm
width: 20. 8cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 11. 8cm
width: 10. 3cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 33 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. 33" below the image on the left: "henry monnier" and on the right: "lith. De bernard"
caption - below the image: i want to die if i ever speak to your victor
iconographic description:
a couple is arguing. The man, holding his hat and his cane in his hand, leans towards his companion. She points to her chest with a gesture of annoyance and also leans in counter-arguing. 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: "having jealousy for a woman by whom one is loved constitutes singular vices of reasoning. We are loved or we are not: placed at these two extremes, jealousy is a useless feeling in man; it is perhaps no more explainable than fear, and perhaps jealousy is fear in love. But it's not doubting your wife, it's doubting yourself, it's at the same time the height of selfishness, failing self-esteem, and the irritation of false vanity. [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 98-106. Date: 1827.
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