Chinese Young Lady
Original title: Chinese Young Lady
kurzbeschreibung
François Boucher made the etching "Chinesische junge Dame" between 1738 and 1745. It presents a Chinese woman in traditional dress, standing at a table with a bowl in her hand.
Description
Her hair is dressed elaborately and set with ornaments. On the table beside her stand a vase and another vessel, and a chair with lattice ornament appears behind her. Detailed drawing and shading carry this black-and-white print, bringing out the texture of the fabric and the hair. Along the lower edge runs a Latin inscription with the artist's name and the title of the work.
Context
This etching dates from the first half of the eighteenth century, when European artists took a lively interest in Asian motifs. It belongs to the Chinoiserie fashionable at the time, which often pictured China in an idealized and fantastic light. Boucher never went to China himself; he relied on accounts and on objects that had reached Europe.
Impact
Delicate lines and careful shading give the sheet an elegant, richly detailed feel. The lady conveys a calm, dignified mood, characteristic of Boucher's idealized portraits.
Technique
Etching is an intaglio process in which the drawing is bitten into a copper plate. Precise hatching and a clear line show Boucher's assured command of the technique. The trimmed sheet measures 21.2 × 13.5 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)