At Least Be Discreet and You May Count on Me (pair)

About this work

This print shows two oval portraits side by side. On the left, a woman in a frilly white dress holds a fan and a bouquet, looking thoughtful. On the right, a man in a powdered wig and fancy coat leans against a window frame, holding a flower to his nose. Both images are framed by a dark border with a smaller carved medallion below each one. The woman’s pose and the man’s gesture feel playful but a little secretive. The artist used soft shading to make the faces and fabrics look three-dimensional. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this lighting trick works.