"We are going to incise the muscles, saw the bones, in a word, heal the sick" from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals

Art Historical Context

This witty wood engraving, titled *"We are going to incise the muscles, saw the, in a word, the sick,"* comes from the satirical book *Scenes from the Private and Public of Animals* (ca. 1842), featuring text by literary giant Honoré de Balzac illustrations by visionary caricaturist J.J Grandville. Created during France's July Monarchy, the work exemplifies the era's booming tradition of anthropomorphic satire, where animals mimic human follies to critique society. Here, pompous animal surgeons prepare to "heal" a patient with comically brutal enthusiasm, poking fun at the often gruesome medical practices of the 19th century, like rudimentary surgery without anesthesia. Grandville, a master of caricature, used wood engraving—a precise intaglio technique where intricate designs are carved into end-grain wood blocks—for its ability to produce sharp, detailed reproductions ideal for mass-printed books. This 10¼ × 7¼-inch sheet captures his signature style: exaggerated expressions, hybrid human-animal forms, and dynamic compositions that blend humor with sharp social commentary. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this print highlights Grandville's enduring influence on visual satire, from *Le Charivari* magazine to modern cartoons. It invites us to laugh at human hubris while appreciating the artistry that made 1840s Paris a hotbed of irreverent creativity. (198 words)

About the Artist

Honoré de Balzac|J. J. Grandville (French|French) · 1799 |1803 –1850 |1847

French, Tours 1799–1850 Paris|French, Nancy 1803–1847 Vanves