"Frétillon" from The Complete Works of Béranger

Art Historical Context

This 1836 wood engraving titled "Frétillon" comes from an illustrated edition of *The Complete Works of Béranger*, published in Paris by Fournier & Perrotin. Pierre-Jean de Béranger, one of France’s most celebrated songwriters of the early nineteenth century, filled his verses with witty social commentary and affectionate portraits of everyday life. The image likely accompanies one of his lively character songs, capturing a spirited female figure whose nickname—“Frétillon,” or “little fidget”—suggests energy and charm. The illustration was designed by J. J. Grandville, whose fantastical yet sharply observed style helped define French caricature and book illustration during the July Monarchy. Rendered as a wood engraving by John Thompson, the print demonstrates the medium’s ability to combine fine detail with economical reproduction, allowing Béranger’s popular poetry to reach a wide audience through affordable, attractively illustrated volumes. Today the sheet belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Elisha Whittelsey Collection, preserving a vivid example of how literature and visual satire intertwined in 1830s France.

About the Artist

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

French, Paris 1780–1857 Paris|French