Hawthorn flower-lady, secateurs and clippers. Grandville Espino (Spanish) c1902.

by Grandville, Jean-Jacques

Espino. Hawthorn being trimmed by hedge-clippers and secateurs.

Colour-printed engraving highlighted with gum arabic for publication in Spain c1902 - from the earlier engraving by Charles Geoffroy (1819-1882) from the drawing of French illustrator and caricaturist Jean-Ignace-Isidore Gérard (1803-1847) for Les Fleurs Animées (Animated Flowers), first published in Paris circa 1847.

Known as Jean-Jacques, Grandville was tutored in drawing by his father, miniature-artist Jean-Baptiste Gérard. Jean-Jacques adopted the name 'Grandville' from his father’s actor parents who were known as 'Gérard de Grandville'. Flowers were given human characters, that ranged from charming to gruesome, depending on Grandville's state of mind. Grandville acquired fame by adding animal and bird heads to people's bodies, and as here, by portraying flowers as ladies with personalities. His 'animations' were so popular, that they were reissued a number of times in the United States, Belgium, Germany and Spain.

There is small faint bend at top right corner of the page (covered by mount). This quirky engraving has been mounted between antique-white conservation matt board and covered with cellophane for protection. Approximate window size is 145 x 95mm (5.5 x 4 inches). The external mount size for framing is 270 x 220mm (11.25 x 9.5 inches).