La Maitresse d'ecole
1740
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1740
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
La Maitresse d'ecole is a 1740 ink by Bernard Lépicié, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a woman and a child sitting at a small table. The woman, dressed in a loose dress with ruffled sleeves, leans over the table, pointing at a book or paper. The child, wearing a cap, watches closely. The background is plain, keeping focus on their faces and hands. The title *La Maitresse d’École* (The Schoolmistress) hints this scene shows a teacher and student. The text below is in French, describing how the child’s serious look proves the woman’s skill. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one carved detailed images into metal plates.
