Reverse copy of the Frontispiece: Gaigne Petit, plate 1 from "Le Cris de Paris" (The Cries of Paris)
Original title: Reverse copy of the Frontispiece: Gaigne Petit, plate 1 from "Le Cris de Paris" (The Cries of Paris)
kurzbeschreibung
A seated man holding a bowl in his hands, surrounded by everyday utensils — this etching and engraving by Simon Francis Ravenet the elder from the 18th century presents itself thus. The sheet reproduces the frontispiece of the series 'Le Cris de Paris' in reverse and is based on a design by François Boucher.
Description
At a table crouches a man, gripping a bowl or pot; a long shirt falls over his arms, and a cap sits on his head. A chair beside him bears a skull crown. A wall in the back room is inscribed with the words 'Les Cri de Paris' and 'Par F. Boucher'. On the floor lie scattered a stick, a basket, and other items. Black-and-white tones and dense line work define the image.
Context
The series 'Le Cris de Paris' captures the street cries and trades of the Parisian population in the 18th century. Ravenet made this reversed copy after a design by François Boucher, a leading figure of the Rococo. Prints of this kind were prized collectibles and carried the image of Parisian daily life across Europe.
Impact
The dense line work and precise reproduction give the sheet a documentary quality, transporting the viewer to 18th-century Paris. Because the execution is reversed, the familiar appears slightly shifted — this draws greater attention to the pictorial structure.
Technique
Executed in etching and engraving, with fine lines working out shadows and details. Textures can thus be rendered precisely, and the contours of figures and objects remain clear. Trimmed, the sheet measures 27.3 x 18.9 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)