EMPTY - ORIGINAL HAND COLORED PLATES FROM "LES FLEURS ANIMEES" (THE ANIMATED FLOWERS) 54 HAND COLORED PLATES CREATED BY J.J. GRANDVILLE IN 1847

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One of Grandville’s supreme achievements was "Les Fleurs Animes" (The Animated Flowers), a series released at a time when French printing technology was ascendant. A masterpiece of botanical illustration, this series of 54 hand colored engravings displays floral maidens, each taking on the personality of her adorned flower. As such, for example, the Forget-Me-Not mourns her loneliness and the exotic Tulip bewitches those who look upon her….

Published in 1847, Les Fleurs Animées imagines a world where the flowers reclaim the meanings bestowed upon them by a covetous Victorian audience, and become actresses in their own drama.

 Jean Ignace Isadore Gerard ( September 13, 1803- March 17, 1847) is known to many by his pseudonym, J.J. Grandville, a very popular and renown French caricaturist. Born in Nancy, France , Jean was raised by a theatrical and artistic family- he took on the name “Grandville” after his grandfather’s professional stage name and was taught by his father, a painter of miniatures. 

After moving to Paris and publishing collections of lithographs, Grandville embarked on a series of seventy prints, entitled Metamorphoses du Jour. With this collection, Grandville explored the personality traits of humans, pairing them with their animal counterparts. Showing extraordinary skill and keen observation, these whimsical and satirical images placed human bodies with animal faces and opened the door for Grandville. He started illustrating for magazines and publications, such as a La Silhouette, L’Artiste, La Caracature, and Le Charivari, using his caricatures for social and political commentary.

 In 1835, France reinstated a prior censorship of caricature, which forced Grandville to explore other work options. He chose to go the route of book illustrator, bringing images to popular titles such as Gulliver’s Travels, Robinson Crusoe, Don Quixote, and the fables of La Fontaine.