Fire (Etching)
Original title: Fire
kurzbeschreibung
Louis Félix de La Rue's etching Feuer (Fire) centres on three putti gathered around a dead hare. The undated print, executed in etching, measures 20.1 x 26 cm.
Description
Three putti have settled on the ground. Two hold pipes and look at the hare lying on its back before them, while the third sits on the animal. The arrangement feels symmetrical: the putti cluster in the middle, the hare in front. Behind them loom shadowy shapes that suggest trees or bushes. The image is in greyscale, with light diffused evenly across the scene.
Context
Louis Félix de La Rue (1730–1777) was a French draughtsman, sculptor and printmaker of the Neoclassical period. He became known for ornamental designs and mythological scenes, often drawing on antique models. Feuer likely belongs to a series depicting the elements, a common format in the eighteenth century. Neither the exact date nor the patron is recorded.
Impact
The symmetrical layout and calm, even lighting give the scene a sense of balance and harmony. The putti's playful activity around the dead hare creates a mood that shifts between light-heartedness and melancholy.
Technique
For this etching, a plate was bitten with acid and the print pulled on paper. Fine lines and clear contours define the sheet, in keeping with eighteenth-century etching practice. The dimensions are approximately 20.1 x 26 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)