Margot la Critique

This is one of Bracquemond’s earliest prints in which he depicted animals, in particular birds, to comment on human faults and contemporary society. Here Bracquemond rendered a veiled criticism of critics. The squawking magpie holds a plume and straddles a globe, which is clearly identified by the word "Paris" and the serpentine line reminiscent of the Seine River. Other recognizable words include "Opera," "French," "Museum," "Palace," "Academy," and "School," signifying the different domains of critics. The four stanzas encircling the bird satirize magpies and their chattiness and draw a clear parallel between critics and the behavior of the birds. Bracquemond underscored his commentary with a reference to Ovid’s description of magpies in "Metamorphoses", citing in the lower margin: "Raucaque garrulitas studium que immane loquendi," which translates to "their hoarse garrulity, their boundless passion for talk." Originally called "A Magpie," when the print was exhibited in 1863, Bracquemond amended the title to "Margot – The Critic" to stress the satirical and allegorical aspect of the print.