Who painted Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons)?

Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons) was painted by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin in 1750.

Where can I see Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons)?

Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons)?

Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons) is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons)?

Museum-quality prints of Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons)

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin , 1750

Vue de la foire de Beson (The Fair at Bezons) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Gabriel de Saint-Aubin. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin’s etching *Vue de la foire de Beson* dates from 1750.

About this work

Overview

Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin’s etching *Vue de la foire de Beson* dates from 1750. Executed on laid paper, the print records a bustling open‑air market held near Paris. The composition is densely populated, with figures moving among stalls, a central tree and a pavilion that frames the activity. The work functions as a visual document of mid‑eighteenth‑century provincial life.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a temporary fair in the village of Bezons, showing merchants, shoppers, and travelers in a lively tableau. Groups of people are depicted walking, conversing, or seated, while a few riders on horseback add a sense of movement. The inclusion of animals, vendors’ booths, and a stage‑like structure suggests both commercial exchange and communal entertainment.

Technique & Style

Created through a fine‑line etching process, Saint‑Aubin incised intricate details into a copper plate before printing on laid paper.

Created through a fine‑line etching process, Saint‑Aubin incised intricate details into a copper plate before printing on laid paper. The delicate hatching renders textures of clothing, foliage, and architectural elements, while the dense clustering of figures demonstrates the artist’s skill in managing scale and perspective within a limited space. The overall effect is a vivid, almost documentary representation.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the middle of Saint‑Aubin’s active period as a draughtsman and printmaker in Paris. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work appears in several 19th‑century catalogues of French prints and has been held by major European collections specializing in 18th‑century graphic art.