Artwork

Scènes de moeurs: Bellotte! ma petite Bellote! veux-tu laisser ce vilain poisson!

Charles Joseph Traviès de Villers , 1838

Scènes de moeurs: Bellotte! ma petite Bellote! veux-tu laisser ce vilain poisson! is a print by the Romanticist artist Charles Joseph Traviès de Villers. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Scènes de moeurs: Bellotte!

About this work

Overview

Scènes de moeurs: Bellotte! ma petite Bellote! veux-tu laisser ce vilain poisson! is a print created by Charles Joseph Traviès de Villers around 1838, now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The title suggests a commentary on everyday life, potentially poking fun at people's behavior around food or wealth.

The print depicts a theatrically exaggerated scene in a dimly lit room, featuring two characters with comically contrasting reactions: one shocked with outstretched arms, the other stiff in formal attire, holding a small fish. Accompanying elements include a nearby dog and a swan in a water bowl. The title suggests a commentary on everyday life, potentially poking fun at people's behavior around food or wealth.

Technique & Style

While specific technical details of the print are not provided, the visual elements described point to a style that emphasizes caricature and theatricality, characteristic of humorous or satirical works of the period.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1838 by Charles Joseph Traviès de Villers, the work is currently housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, though the full provenance history prior to its acquisition is not detailed here.

Context

The work's emphasis on exaggerated characters and situations aligns with broader artistic movements of the time that valued expressive drama, such as aspects of Romanticism, which often explored intense emotions and, in some cases, humor.

Legacy

The lasting impact or influence of this specific print on subsequent art movements or popularity is not explicitly outlined in the provided information, suggesting its significance may lie more in its illustrative value of period humor and style rather than pioneering artistic advancements.

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles Joseph Traviès de Villers

Charles-Joseph Traviès de Villers, also known simply as Traviès, was a Swiss-born French painter, lithographer, and caricaturist whose work appeared regularly in Le Charivari and La Caricature.