Jean Ignace Isidore Grandville was born in Nancy in 1803. From an early age he showed a talent and passion for drawing, and he received his first training from his father, who was a miniaturist. In 1825 he settled in Paris and a few years later he garnered his first major success with Les Métamorphoses du jour (1829), an album of 72 lithographs.
Starting in 1830, Grandville, along with Daumier, became one of the main contributors to La Caricature, a weekly political commentary magazine founded by Charles Philipon. The critical magazine provided biting commentaries on the government and society at the time of Louis-Philippe, depicted by Grandville in his brilliant satirical drawings. In 1835, La Caricature had to cease publication as a result of Louis-Philippe's reinstatement of censorship. Grandville began illustrating several books including such classics as Les Fables de la Fontaine, Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels. His absolute masterpiece published in 1844, Un autre monde, would become a great inspiration not only for a subsequent generation of illustrators, but in particular for the Surrealists and even for contemporary artists such as Marcel Broodthaers. Grandville died in 1847 after a brief illness. Les Fleurs animées and Les Étoiles were still published posthumously. Grandville was not only an excellent illustrator, but above all a gifted and visionary artist.

This richly illustrated, 560-page publication covers all aspects of Grandville's work. The works pictured are part of Galerie Ronny Van de Velde's collection. 

The exhibition J.J. GRANDVILLE (1803-1847) runs from April 20 through July 14, 2024, and from August 23 through September 22, 2024 at the Rossaert, Antwerp.