Artwork
Le cocu battu et content
Le cocu battu et content is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jean-Louis Delignon. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean‑Louis Delignon’s 1780 etching, *Le cocu battu et content*, presents an interior tableau that captures a moment of quiet drama. Executed in the print medium, the work measures the artist’s skill in rendering texture and space, and it is presently part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows two women within a modestly furnished room. One figure stands, clothed in a long, flowing gown with a ruffled hem, while the other kneels, wearing a simpler dress. The presence of a chair, a candelabra, and a mirror suggests a domestic setting, inviting speculation about the narrative relationship between the figures.
Technique & Style
Delignon employs the etching technique to achieve fine line work and nuanced shading, creating a sense of depth and atmospheric perspective. The handling of light and shadow, especially around the figures and the reflective surface of the mirror, aligns the piece with the Romantic sensibility of the late eighteenth century, emphasizing emotion through detailed rendering.
History & Provenance
Created in 1780, the print has remained in the public domain of art institutions. It entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings in Washington, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European print collection, providing scholars and visitors access to Delignon’s contribution to French printmaking.
Artist & collection
