Chinese Performer
Original title: Chinese Performer
kurzbeschreibung
François Boucher's etching Chinesische Darstellerin, made between 1738 and 1745, presents a Chinese woman in traditional dress performing a puppet show with a stick puppet. This upright print belongs to a series of Chinese subjects; it was printed by Gabriel Huquier.
Description
The woman stands erect in the middle of the image, her body turned to the right, her face in profile. A long robe with sleeves and a belt envelops her, and a fringed hat covers her head. A long stick with an attached puppet rests in her hands. Bundles of straw and a lantern fill the rear space, while flowers and plants frame the scene.
Context
In these years Boucher turned increasingly to Chinese motifs, which had reached Europe through travel accounts and imported goods. He designed the etchings of this series himself; Gabriel Huquier transferred them to print between 1738 and 1745. Such images belonged to the Chinoiserie fashion of the period, which packaged exotic scenes for a European audience.
Impact
Clear lines and a calm, symmetrical layout give the print elegance and an exotic appeal. The woman with the puppet radiates both grace and strangeness—a mixture characteristic of Chinoiserie.
Technique
In etching, the drawing is engraved into a copper plate, which is then etched with acid. The lines appear fine and precise, which speaks for careful execution by the engraver Huquier. The print was printed on paper and trimmed to 21 × 13.3 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)