Contadina, plate 11 from "Recueil de diverses fig.res étrangeres Inventées par F. Boucher P.tre du Roy et Gravées par F. Ravenet"
Original title: Contadina, plate 11 from "Recueil de diverses fig.res étrangeres Inventées par F. Boucher P.tre du Roy et Gravées par F. Ravenet" (Collection of Various Foreign Figures, Devised by F. Boucher, Painter of the King and Engraved [etched] by F. Ravenet)
kurzbeschreibung
A peasant woman carrying a basket brimming with apples stands outdoors among grass and low bushes. Gabriel Huquier etched this motif in the 18th century, and the sheet belongs to the series 'Recueil de diverses figures étrangères.'
Description
The woman occupies the middle of the plate, a headscarf tied around her hair, a long shirt and apron covering her. Her face stays impassive, her gaze angled slightly to the right. Behind her, plain nature unfolds in grass and shrubs. A symmetrical layout places the figure at the center. Shades of gray govern the monochrome print, which shows even light with no harsh contrasts.
Context
François Boucher designed the models for this series and Gabriel Huquier transferred them to copper; Huquier worked in Paris as a printmaker and publisher. Boucher held the post of royal painter and was known for pastoral as well as figure subjects. Decorators and craftsmen used the etchings as patterns, carrying such motifs over into various media.
Impact
Calm and idyllic in mood, the sheet reads as pastoral art of the 18th century typically did. Clear lines and the detailed rendering of the clothing lend the simple subject a certain elegance.
Technique
Etching and engraving work together here, permitting fine lines and precise shading. Fabric textures and natural elements can thus be reproduced in detail, as the visual analysis describes.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)