Honoré de Balzac's 'Pierre Grassou' is a satirical novel that offers a witty critique of the 19th-century Parisian art world. Written in Balzac's signature realist style, the book explores the themes of ambition, success, and the commodification of art. The protagonist, Pierre Grassou, is a mediocre painter who gains fame and fortune by catering to popular taste, raising questions about the value ...