A Young Girl holding a Cat
Original title: A Young Girl holding a Cat
kurzbeschreibung
A kitten rests in the arms of a young woman, a subject Louis Marin Bonnet captured in 1769 as a crayon-manner engraving printed in sanguine ink. This impression is the second state of two. Portrait and animal genre blend closely here.
Description
The young woman wears her hair in a curly knot and a simple gown. Her gaze drifts slightly to the left as she gently holds the kitten. The animal's face is drawn in detail, with an expressive look. Strong hatching and lines model the faces of both human and animal, while the background stays plain and dark. A uniform brown tone washes over the entire image.
Context
Louis Marin Bonnet, an 18th-century French printmaker, became known for his innovations in the crayon manner. This technique could imitate the look of red chalk or pastel drawings, much prized in the Rococo. The present sheet from 1769 reflects the era's taste for graceful, sentimental subjects. In the lower part of the image appear the artist's and engraver's signatures, along with the year and place of publication.
Impact
Soft and intimate, the sheet owes its effect to the gentle monochrome palette and delicate hatching. The calm arrangement draws the eye to the tender bond between girl and cat. A graceful yet lively mood emanates from the scene.
Technique
The work was printed as a crayon-manner engraving in sanguine ink. Dots and short lines create the impression of a chalk drawing. The sheet survives as the second state of two and has been trimmed to 20.8 × 15.3 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)