Artwork
Foire de Village
Foire de Village is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles-Melchior Descourtis. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work portrays a bustling village fair, centring on a temporary stage where a man and woman in bright garments perform before an assembled crowd.
Created in 1788, Foire de Village is a colour-printed etching and engraving by Charles‑Melchior Descourtis. The work portrays a bustling village fair, centring on a temporary stage where a man and woman in bright garments perform before an assembled crowd. A young boy with a drum and two accompanying dogs occupy the foreground, while a tranquil backdrop of trees under a clouded sky frames the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a moment of communal celebration, emphasizing the contrast between the vivid attire of the performers and the more modest dress of the onlookers. This juxtaposition highlights the festive hierarchy of public spectacle versus everyday life, while the inclusion of children and animals conveys a sense of innocence and collective participation in rural festivities.
Technique & Style
Descourtis employed a combination of engraving and etching, then applied colour to the printed matrix, a method that allowed for fine line work alongside tonal variation. The composition balances detailed figural rendering with broader landscape elements, using light shading to suggest depth and movement, thereby reinforcing the lively atmosphere of the fair.
History & Provenance
Foire de Village was produced in the late eighteenth century, a period when French printmakers increasingly explored genre scenes of popular life. The work has been documented in catalogues of Descourtis’s output and remains in the collections of institutions that specialize in French prints, reflecting its continued relevance to studies of pre‑revolutionary visual culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles-Melchior Descourtis (1753–1820) was a French artist, born in Paris.
