Artwork
Le consomme
Le consomme is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jeanne Deny. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Le Consommé is a black‑and‑white print executed by Jeanne Deny in 1789. The work combines etching and engraving techniques to produce a single image that depicts an interior scene populated by three figures and a dog, framed by statues and a draped curtain.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a woman in an elaborate dress leaning over a bed where another partially clothed woman lies, while a man wearing a wig kneels beside the bed. A small dog rests near the foot of the bed. The title, Le Consommé, suggests a moment of fatigue or the aftermath of an indulgent gathering, inviting viewers to infer a narrative of exhaustion or conclusion.
Technique & Style
Deny employed both etching and engraving, allowing for fine line work and varied tonal contrasts. The print’s chiaroscuro effect, achieved through dense cross‑hatching, emphasizes the interior’s depth and the textures of clothing, drapery, and marble statues, reflecting the late‑Baroque interest in dramatic lighting and illusionistic space.
History & Provenance
Created in the year of the French Revolution’s outset, the print reflects the artistic practices of late eighteenth‑century France. While specific ownership records are limited, the work is catalogued among Deny’s surviving prints and is referenced in collections that document French printmaking of the period.
Artist & collection
