Illustrated title page for 'Les Fleurs Animées', on slightly yellowed paper. The title is spelled out in a variety of fanciful flower and leaf forms growing up from a plant with a central stem, two side branches, and four broad leaves. The colors are a mix of bright reds and pinks, sunshine yellow, pale green, light blue, and pale purple. The words are divided among the three branches: 'Les' at the top of the central stem, 'Fleurs' along the left branch, 'Animées' along the right. Below the 'Les' on the central stem are four small human figures clothed in flowers, connected to the stem by leaf caps. They seem to grow from the plant and wave cheerfully. 'Seconde Partie G. de Gonet Editeur' is written in capitalized letters on two pale green leaves. Two large insects, a yellow dragonfly and a red and yellow beetle, cling to the cut stem of the plant. The fine lines of the illustration are offset by a dense scramble of wavy lines behind the leaves, creating depth.

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Les Fleurs Animees, Vol 2

This is a Les Fleurs Animees, vol 2.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Botanical Expressions.

It is dated 1847. Its medium is lithograph on paper. It is a part of the department.

It is believed that Emile Gallé used Les Fleurs Animées to learn how
to read. Along with Gallé, renowned illustrator and cartoonist J. J.
Grandville was born in Nancy, but he later established himself in Paris.
In these two volumes, Grandville draws fashionable French ladies as
beautiful, wilting wildflowers or threatening poisonous herbs

It is credited Smithsonian Libraries, NC248 .G7F6 1847.