"Memories of the People" from The Complete Works of Béranger

Art Historical Context

This wood engraving, titled "Memories of the People," was created in 1836 as an illustration for an edition of *The Complete Works of Béranger*, published in Paris by Fournier & Perrotin and printed by Lacoste. The poet Pierre-Jean de Béranger was celebrated for his witty and often politically charged songs that captured the spirit of French popular life during the July Monarchy. Illustrator J. J. Grandville, known for his lively and imaginative style, contributed designs that brought Béranger’s verses to vivid life through detailed scenes of everyday figures. Wood engraving was a favored technique in the 1830s for book illustrations, allowing artists to produce fine lines and intricate textures that could be printed in large numbers. Here, Grandville depicts men, women, and dogs in a nostalgic gathering that reflects the title’s theme of collective remembrance. The small sheet size—roughly 8 11/16 by 5 9/16 inches—made the image suitable for intimate viewing within a published volume. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1959 through the Elisha Whittelsey Fund, this print highlights the growing role of illustrated books in 19th-century France. It offered readers both literary enjoyment and accessible visual storytelling, bridging high art and popular culture.

About the Artist

Fournier & Perrotin|Pierre Jean de Béranger|J. J. Grandville|Lacoste, Paris (French|French|French|French) · |1780 | |1803 – |1857 | |1847

French|French, Paris 1780–1857 Paris|French|French, Nancy 1803–1847 Vanves