Morning
Original title: Morning
kurzbeschreibung
A woman indoors, occupied with dressing or doing her hair – that is the subject of Gilles Edme Petit's print "Morgen" (Morning). The undated etching and engraving measures 31.5 x 21.6 cm and belongs to the genre of scenes of everyday life.
Description
A long, richly decorated gown and a veil surround the woman; a small hand mirror rests in her hand. On the table beside her lie another mirror, a jewellery box and a penholder. A parrot perches on a piece of furniture in the background. The layout is symmetrical, drawing the eye to the woman and the bird.
Context
Gilles Edme Petit worked as an engraver and publisher in eighteenth-century Paris. Prints like this often appeared as single sheets or within series of moralising or gallant subjects. The private moment of a woman was a favoured theme in French art of the period.
Impact
The monochrome palette and calm arrangement give the sheet an intimate, almost contemplative mood. Carefully rendered textures and passages of light, drawn in a detailed style, create an elegant, courtly air.
Technique
A copper plate was etched with acid, then the engraver worked it with a burin – so etching and engraving combine. The finest lines and precise hatching become possible, allowing fabrics, surfaces and reflections of light to be reproduced in detail; the print is taken from the copper plate treated in this way.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)