1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Les Plaisirs paternels (Paternal Pleasures) is a 1797 ink by Philibert-Louis Debucourt, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This scene shows a cozy outdoor moment with four people: two older men, a woman, and a baby. One man sits on a bench holding the baby’s hand, while the other man reads nearby. The woman leans in, smiling, and a servant peeks over the balcony in the background. A cat curls up on the bench, and a dog rests at the man’s feet. The setting looks like a garden with trees, a stone wall, and a building behind them. The artist used soft colors and gentle lines to make the moment feel warm and everyday. The title hints this might be about simple family joy, but the clothes and setting look like the late 1700s. Next, check out the technique: etching, drypoint, aquatint.
Philibert-Louis Debucourt (1755–1832) was a French artist, born in Paris.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
