"He was only waiting to make fun of the pursuer and the pursuit" from the Little Miseries of Human Life

Art Historical Context

This 1843 wood by J. J. Grandville and collaborators Victor Laisné, Paul-Emile-Daurand Forgues, and Henri Fournier comes from the illustrated book *Little Miseries of Human Life*. The playful title hints at a lighthearted scene which the apparent drama of pursuit dissolves into teasing, capturing the everyday frustrations and absurdities that the series gently lampoons. Grandville, celebrated for his witty caricatures and anthropomorphic imagery, brings a sharp yet affectionate eye to these vignettes of human folly. Created through the wood-engraving process—a technique prized in the nineteenth century for its ability to produce fine detail at low cost—the print was designed for wide circulation in popular books. Its modest sheet size (roughly 11 by 7½ inches) made it easy to include alongside text, helping spread satirical commentary to a broad audience of the period. Now in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of drawings and prints, the work invites modern viewers to smile at timeless social mishaps while appreciating Grandville’s lively draftsmanship and the era’s inventive printmaking.

About the Artist

Victor Laisné|J. J. Grandville|Paul-Emile-Daurand Forgues|Henri Fournier (French|French|French|French) · 1807 |1803 |1813 | – |1847 |1883 |

French, born 1807|French, Nancy 1803–1847 Vanves|French, Paris 1813–1883 Cannes|