Chinoiserie with a woman playing a musical instrument, from Suite de Figures Chinoises. . .Tiré du Cabinet de Mr. d'Azaincourt (Series of Chinoiserie Figures. . .From the Chambers of Mr. d'Azaincourt), plate 5
Original title: Chinoiserie with a woman playing a musical instrument, from Suite de Figures Chinoises. . .Tiré du Cabinet de Mr. d'Azaincourt (Series of Chinoiserie Figures. . .From the Chambers of Mr. d'Azaincourt), plate 5
kurzbeschreibung
A woman dressed in vaguely Chinese-style clothing holds a stringed instrument in this sheet from the series of Chinese Figures. Jean Pierre Louis Laurent Hoüel made the etching with burin between 1755 and 1776. The motif derives from models in Mr. d'Azaincourt's collection, and this is the fifth plate of the set.
Description
A woman stands in the foreground wearing a long, patterned robe and an elaborate hairstyle. She holds a stringed instrument that rests on a wooden stick. Trees, shrubs, and a Chinese pavilion fill the space behind her. The print is monochrome and dense with detail: textures and materials are recorded precisely, while light falls evenly, without strong shadows.
Context
The series dates from the eighteenth century, when chinoiserie was spreading widely across Europe. Hoüel took his models from the collection of the French collector Mr. d'Azaincourt. Print sets of this kind served as decoration and carried exotic motifs into European interiors. The date range 1755–76 marks a period of intense engagement with East Asian forms.
Impact
The sheet feels calm and harmonious, in keeping with idealized chinoiserie. Its exact linework and richly detailed execution give it a refined, decorative character.
Technique
Etching and burin are combined, which allows for fine lines and precise particulars. The sheet was printed on paper, and its monochrome palette underlines the graphic quality.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)