1769
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Feast of Anthony and Cleopatra (Le festin d'Antoine et de Cleopatre) is a 1769 ink by Jean Honoré Fragonard, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a lively, crowded scene with people gathered around a table. At the center, a woman in flowing robes sits with a man leaning over her, while others stand or kneel nearby. The lines are loose and swirling, giving the whole image a sense of movement and drama. The artist used a technique that lets ink pool in certain areas, creating soft shadows and textures—this is called *etching*. The scene looks like a moment of celebration or a story unfolding, with lots of gestures and expressions. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists use acid and ink to make prints like this.
Jean-Honoré Fragonard was born on 5 April 1732 in Grasse, the son of a glover, and moved with his family to Paris in 1738.
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