Le midi

About this work

This engraving shows four people in a garden at midday. Two women and a man stand near a fountain, dressed in fancy 18th-century clothes. One woman holds a basket of flowers, another fans herself, and the man looks up. A child kneels nearby, also fanning. In the background, a statue of a boy holds a fan aloft, and trees frame the scene. The title *Le Midi* hints this is about noon—notice how the light and shadows play across their faces. The artist used fine lines to show texture, like the folds in their clothes. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Larmessin created these sharp details.