Gedichte im Geschmack des Grécourt (Poems in the Style of Grécourt) is a collection of erotic poetry, originally published in 1771. Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Willart de Grécourt (1683–1743), usually referred to simply as Grécourt, was a French poet and cleric known for his witty, satirical, and frequently licentious poetry. He was particularly famous in the eighteenth century for his light verse, epigrams and parodies, often written in a mock-heroic or ironic style.

These new verses ‘in the style of Grécourt’ were written by Johann Georg Scheffner (1736–1820), a Königsberg civil servant, writer, translator, and a close friend of Immanuel Kant The poems are often quite explicit and audacious for their era, offering a frankness in discussing sexuality that breaks away from euphemistic convention. The original work saw multiple reprints and retitling, including Gedichte nach dem Leben (Poems from Life, 1780) and Natürlichkeiten der sinnlichen und empfindsamen Liebe (The Simplicity of Sensual and Compassionate Love, 1798). Scheffner initially published them anonymously or using a pseudonym, though later editions reverted to his own name. Scheffner was a prolific author; besides this volume he published poems, translations, plays, essays, and a two-volume autobiography.

The engravings for Scheffner’s Gedichte are the most explicit book illustrations that Philipp produced.

A complete online version of Scheffner’s Gedichte im Geschmack des Grécourt (in German) can be found here.

The Philipp-illustrated Scheffner was privately published in Potsdam, in a limited signed and numbered edition of 400 copies.