Artwork
A femme avare galant escroc
A femme avare galant escroc is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Aliamet. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jacques Aliamet’s 1757 etching titled *A femme avare galant escroc* depicts an opulent interior scene. Rendered in fine line work, the print presents a richly appointed room filled with decorative elements, creating a snapshot of eighteenth‑century domestic elegance.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman in an elaborate gown, holding a fan, and a child wearing a curled wig. They stand beside a table bearing a vase, while a small dog rests on the floor. The surrounding walls are adorned with carved panels, mirrors, and framed pictures, suggesting a setting of wealth and social display.
Technique & Style
Aliamet employed the traditional etching process, incising the image onto a copper plate with a needle and then using acid to bite the lines. The resulting marks vary in depth, allowing for soft, layered shading that mimics the subtle gradations of pencil drawing. The overall effect is a busy yet meticulously organized arrangement of forms.
History & Provenance
Created in 1757, the print belongs to the later phase of Aliamet’s career, during which he produced numerous genre scenes and interior views. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is representative of mid‑eighteenth‑century French printmaking and has been cited in catalogues of Aliamet’s oeuvre.
Artist & collection
