Les Fleurs Animées
Medium
Wood engravings, hand-colored
Classification
Books
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Lincoln Kirstein, 1970
Accession Number
1970.565.423.1–.2
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
"Les Fleurs Anim," published in 186, is a beautifully book featuring hand-colored woodgravings that bring flowers to life as graceful female figures. Created with contributions from author Taxile Delord, illustrator J. J. Grandville, and engraver Charles-Michel Geoffroy, the work was issued by Garnier Frères and entered the Metropolitan Museum’s collection as a gift from Lincoln Kirstein in 1970. Grandville’s whimsical style transforms roses, leaves, and other blooms into elegant women accompanied by insects, blending natural observation with playful fantasy. The hand-colored wood engravings allowed for delicate detail and vibrant hues, making the volume both a literary and visual delight popular in nineteenth-century France. This charming volume reflects the era’s fascination with personifying nature, inviting viewers to see the garden as a lively society of feminine forms and tiny winged companions. Its imaginative imagery continues to enchant audiences interested in the intersection of botany, fantasy, and book arts.
About the Artist
Taxile Delord|Garnier Frères|J. J. Grandville|Charles-Michel Geoffroy (French|French|French|French) · 1815 | |1803 |1819 –1877 | |1847 |1882
French, 1815–1877| |French, Nancy 1803–1847 Vanves|French, Joinville 1819–1882 Passy