Artwork
Les Compliments du jour de l'an
Les Compliments du jour de l'an is a paint print by the Baroque artist Louis-Marin Bonnet. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1764, Les Compliments du jour de l’an is a hand‑colored print by French artist Louis‑Marin Bonnet.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1764, Les Compliments du jour de l’an is a hand‑colored print by French artist Louis‑Marin Bonnet. Executed in the color stipple method, the work measures a modest size typical of 18th‑century prints and presents a single figure in a domestic scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman dressed in a dark gown, holding a basket brimming with freshly cut flowers. The contrast between the dark attire and the vivid blossoms suggests a celebration of the New Year’s greetings, emphasizing themes of renewal and festivity through the symbolic use of flowers.
Technique & Style
Bonnet employed stippling, a technique that builds tone and hue through countless minute dots. In the mid‑1700s this approach was innovative, allowing prints to achieve a painterly quality without the labor of oil or watercolor. The hand‑coloring further enhances the depth of the floral palette.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the oeuvre of Bonnet, who produced several stipple works now held by institutions such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Its documented creation date of 1764 places it within the artist’s mature period, when he explored the possibilities of color stipple.
Artist & collection
