← Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse

Gravures de Boucher pour les Oeuvres de Molière [Figures de Boucher pour Molière]

Original title: Gravures de Boucher pour les Oeuvres de Molière [Figures de Boucher pour Molière]

Artist

Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse

Date

mid-18th century

Medium

Graphite, etching, engraving, mezzotint

Dimensions

Overall: 16 7/16 x 11 1/16 x 7/8 in. (41.7 x 28.1 x 2.2 cm)

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1942

kurzbeschreibung

An album of mid-18th-century prints by Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse gathers illustrations for plays by Molière, combining graphite, etching, engraving and mezzotint. This sheet presents a scene from 'George Dandin, ou le Mari confondu'.

Description

Two women have settled on a balustrade; below in the street a man, presumably George Dandin, kneels holding a flame. Through a latticed gate two more figures can be made out in the distance. Plants and a fountain suggest a garden or park. The monochrome print uses precise lines that model light and contours.

Context

In the 18th century Molière's works were reissued in France with illustrations, and these prints date from that period. Mauzaisse, a French artist, was known for his prints. The combination of different print techniques attests to the high level of craftsmanship of the era.

Impact

The exact lines and monochrome treatment give the sheet an elegant, detailed presence characteristic of 18th-century French art. The layout draws the eye to the central figure and makes the dramatic situation of the play palpable.

Technique

Graphite drawing, etching, engraving and mezzotint are united in this work. This mixture allows fine gradations and detailed reproduction. The monochrome palette underlines the graphic quality of the sheet.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)