"Damned Springtime" from The Complete Works of Béranger

Art Historical Context

"Damned Springtime" is a wood engraving created in 1836 for *The Complete Works of Béranger*, a collection of the popular French songwriter poet Pierre Jean de Banger. The illustration was designed by J. J. Grandville, whose inventive and often satirical imagery brought visual wit to literary editions of the period, and engraved by John Thompson for publishers Fournier & Perrotin. This collaborative process reflects the vibrant publishing culture of July Monarchy France, when illustrated books reached wide audiences through affordable prints. Wood engraving, prized for its ability to render fine lines and intricate details on durable blocks, became the dominant medium for mid-nineteenth-century book illustration. Here it transforms Béranger’s verses into a vivid visual companion, allowing readers to experience the poet’s blend of humor and social commentary through Grandville’s distinctive style. Measuring just 8 5/8 by 5 1/2 inches, the print exemplifies how small-scale works could carry significant cultural weight, circulating ideas and images across social classes. Today preserved in the Metropolitan Museum’s Drawings and Prints department, the engraving offers a window into the lively intersection of literature, caricature, and print technology in Romantic-era France. Its presence in the Elisha Whittelsey Collection underscores the enduring appeal of these modest yet richly expressive illustrations.

About the Artist

Pierre Jean de Béranger|J. J. Grandville|Fournier & Perrotin|John Thompson (French|French) · 1780 | –1857 |

French, Paris 1780–1857 Paris|French