Chinese Man and Woman
Original title: Chinese Man and Woman
kurzbeschreibung
Gabriel Huquier made this print, "Chinese Man and Woman", around 1742, setting the pair in a Chinese garden. It is executed as an etching and engraving on paper and presents two figures dressed in traditional costume.
Description
A man sits on a chair while a woman stands at his side, both wearing Chinese garments. Behind them rises a pavilion whose curtain is painted with two figures. To the left of the picture lie a basket and a plant, to the right a table with a flowerpot. A wall encloses the garden, and the whole view stays in black and white.
Context
The sheet dates from around 1742, a time when European interest in East Asian motifs was growing. The Frenchman Gabriel Huquier was known for his prints, which often featured exotic scenes. Such images belong to the Chinoiserie, an eighteenth-century fashion.
Impact
Clear lines and a calm layout lend the sheet an elegant and at the same time exotic air. The garden looks idyllic and radiates composure and harmony.
Technique
Etching and engraving on paper were used here. This printing method allows for fine lines and details, as are characteristic of eighteenth-century graphics. The sheet measures 47 × 32.1 cm, the plate 33.4 × 23.3 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)