Artwork
Fleuron for the Title Pages
Fleuron for the Title Pages is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Pierre-Philippe Choffard. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
He used a technique called etching, where acid eats away metal plates.
This etching shows delicate floral designs meant for book pages.
It’s a small but fancy piece made for a fancy book’s title page.
You can see tiny leaves and blooms arranged with careful lines.
Choffard made this in 1795, near the end of the 1700s.
He used a technique called etching, where acid eats away metal plates.
The lines are sharp and thin, showing off his skill with tiny details.
This looks like fancy wallpaper but for words.
Check out the National Gallery of Art, Washington to see it in person.
Overview
Pierre‑Philippe Choffard’s 1795 etching titled *Fleuron for the Title Pages* is a modestly sized decorative print intended for use on the opening pages of books. The composition consists of a series of finely rendered floral motifs—small leaves, buds and blossoms—arranged in a symmetrical pattern that would have framed the title text.
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as an ornamental element rather than a narrative image, providing a visual flourish that enhances the elegance of printed material. By employing stylized botanical forms, Choffard creates a sense of refinement and natural beauty that complements the intellectual content of the book without distracting from it.
Technique & Style
Executed in traditional etching, Choffard incised the design onto a copper plate, then exposed it to acid to bite the lines. The resulting marks are exceptionally fine and crisp, demonstrating his mastery of delicate line work. The overall aesthetic reflects the late‑18th‑century taste for intricate, neoclassical ornamentation.
History & Provenance
Created toward the close of the eighteenth century, the print was likely produced for a limited number of luxury editions. It entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it is catalogued as part of the museum’s holdings of French printmaking.
Context
During the 1790s, French book production increasingly incorporated decorative title‑page elements to signal the prestige of the work. Choffard, a noted engraver of ornamental designs, contributed numerous such prints, aligning his practice with the broader European trend of integrating art and the printed word.
Artist & collection
Fleuron for the Title Pages
A Cartouche with Theater Masks
La chauve-souris, le buisson et le canard (The Bat, the Bush, and the Duck)
Marchez tout doux, parlez tout bas
Chacun respecte le travail des autres, afin que le sein soit en sûreté
Chacun respecte le travail des autres, afin que le sien soit en sûreté
