Child with a Dog, Holding a Basket of Grapes, from "Premier Livre de Figures d'après les porcelaines de la Manufacture Royale de France, inventées en 1757, par Mr. Boucher"
Original title: Child with a dog, holding a basket of grapes, from "Premier Livre de Figures d'après les porcelaines de la Manufacture Royale de France, inventées en 1757, par Mr. Boucher" (First Book of Figures after porcelains from the Manufacture Royale de France, devised in 1757, by Mr. Boucher)
kurzbeschreibung
A child stands on a rock, holding a dog and carrying a basket of grapes. This etching and engraving by Pierre Etienne Falconet dates to 1757. The motif comes from the series 'Premier Livre de Figures d'après les porcelaines de la Manufacture Royale de France'. Falconet made the print as a reproductive engraving after porcelain figures.
Description
The child and dog are the main figures, set within a rocky formation. The child stands elevated on a rock, while the dog sits beside it, looking in the same direction. The layout feels symmetrical and balanced. Distant mountains and a cloudy sky are suggested. Fine shading and contrasts create light effects in the monochrome black-and-white view.
Context
The etching was made in 1757 as part of a series engraved after porcelain figures from the Manufacture Royale de France. The designs came from François Boucher, as the album's subtitle reveals. Falconet worked as an engraver and produced this reproductive print on behalf of the manufactory. The series aimed to bring the royal porcelain manufactory's designs to a wider public.
Impact
Clear lines and the calm, symmetrical arrangement give the print a harmonious feel. The monochrome rendering draws attention to the details of the figures and the delicate landscape, creating an idyllic mood. The style is typical of 18th-century French art, which emphasized elegance and closeness to nature.
Technique
The technique combines etching and engraving, as the medium line 'Etching and engraving' indicates. Precise lines and fine hatching create shadows and a sense of depth. The print measures 24.6 x 18.7 cm and is printed on paper.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)