Artwork
Le Déjeuné
Le Déjeuné is an ink print by the Baroque artist Louis-Marin Bonnet. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Louis‑Marin Bonnet’s 1764 print, titled Le Déjeuné, is a color stipple etching that captures a leisurely garden scene. The composition centers on a woman in a light dress seated on a bench, feeding an infant, while a man in a red coat kneels nearby. Additional figures and a small dog complete the tableau, all rendered with delicate tonal variations that suggest dappled sunlight.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays an intimate moment of domestic care set against an outdoor backdrop, reflecting eighteenth‑century customs of picnicking and genteel recreation. The interaction between the adult figures and the child emphasizes nurturing bonds, while the presence of servants and a pet hints at the social hierarchy and leisurely lifestyle of the era’s middle and upper classes.
Technique & Style
Bonnet employed the stipple etching method, using fine dots to build up tones and introduce subtle color washes. This approach allows for a soft gradation of light and shadow, giving the foliage and fabrics a luminous quality. The careful modulation of hue and line creates a sense of depth and atmosphere uncommon in purely line‑based prints of the period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1764, Le Déjeuné is documented as part of Bonnet’s output during his productive years in Paris. The print has passed through several European collections, appearing in 19th‑century catalogues of French graphic art before entering a museum holding of 18th‑century prints, where it remains accessible for study and exhibition.
Artist & collection
