Artwork
Le Galand Chasseur
Le Galand Chasseur is an ink print by the Baroque artist Antoine Aveline. It dates from 1736 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Antoine Aveline’s print, titled Le Galand Chasseur, is an etched and engraved image on laid paper dated to 1736. The work presents a single figure, a hunter, positioned before an elaborate fountain, accompanied by a large dog. The composition balances portraiture and architectural detail, typical of early‑18th‑century French printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure wears a tricorn hat, a long coat, breeches, and a cloak draped over his arm, holding a spear as if prepared for a hunt. The presence of the dog reinforces the hunting motif, while the ornate fountain—featuring a shell‑shaped basin and a curving spout—provides a decorative backdrop that suggests a cultivated, perhaps aristocratic, setting.
Technique & Style
Aveline combines etching with engraving, allowing for both delicate tonal washes and precise, crisp lines. The fine cross‑hatching and varied line weight render textures of fabric, fur, and stone, giving the scene depth and a sense of three‑dimensionality within the flat paper support.
History & Provenance
Created in 1736, the print belongs to the period when French printmakers frequently produced genre scenes for a growing market of collectors. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is documented in catalogues of Aveline’s oeuvre and appears in several 19th‑century collections of French prints.
Context
Le Galand Chasseur reflects the 18th‑century fascination with pastoral and hunting themes, often associated with the leisure pursuits of the French elite. The inclusion of an elaborate fountain aligns with contemporary decorative arts, where architecture and nature were combined to convey status and refinement.
Artist & collection
