Petition for Separation by J.J. Grandville

This captivating hand-colored plate from J.J. Grandville's celebrated "Les Métamorphoses du Jour" transforms a French divorce court into a menagerie of satirical wit. A cockatoo-headed lawyer gestures dramatically before a bench of animal-headed judges, including a lion, bear, and pig, while his horned client sits patiently. The French caption translates roughly to "And in this divorce petition, Gentlemen, observe two things well!" Grandville's anthropomorphic satires, created during the July Monarchy but published posthumously in this 1854 edition, remain influential touchstones in the history of illustration. His technique of placing animal heads on elegantly dressed human bodies offered pointed commentary on French bourgeois society, legal institutions, and human foibles. A wonderful example of mid-19th century French satirical illustration, this plate combines technical refinement with sharp social observation. A standout piece for collectors of antique prints, legal ephemera, or the surrealist tradition that Grandville helped inspire. Size: 6.5" x 10.0" Artist: J.J. Grandville (Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard) Condition: Very Good