L'ete
1761
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1761
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
L'ete is a 1761 ink by Joseph de Longueil, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a group of people in a park-like setting. They’re dressed in fancy 18th-century clothes—big wigs, flowing dresses, and coats—sitting and standing around trees and a small stone wall. One woman holds a fan, another plays a guitar, and a few are talking or resting. In the background, a church steeple and distant houses peek through the trees. Notice how the artist used shading to show fabric folds and faces—it’s not just lines, but layers of tone. The scene feels lively but controlled, like a snapshot of a polite gathering. Check out how this was made using etching.
