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. 2cm
width: 19. 2cm
dimensions - picture:
height: 14. 5cm
width: 9cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 40cm
width: 30cm
description:
plate 42 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. 42" 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: lady! we can't do it again, i have the fault of loving!
iconographic description:
two young women standing, side by side, one holds a handkerchief which she is embroidering, the other turns her back. 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: "sewing and embroidery do not yield thirty cents a day. But the making of flowers and that of fashion require a multitude of movements, gestures, even ideas which leave a pretty woman in her own sphere: she is still herself, she can talk, laugh, sing or think. " [excerpt from honorine, by honoré de balzac]
themes / subjects / places represented:
subject of society, morals, grisette, couture and needlework
mode of acquisition: purchase
institution: maison de balzac
inventory number: bal 98-115. Date: 1827.
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