Artwork
Noce de Village (Village Wedding)
Noce de Village (Village Wedding) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles-Melchior Descourtis. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Noce de Village (Village Wedding) is a print created by Charles-Melchior Descourtis in 1785 using a combination of etching and wash manner techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a lively village wedding scene, with a candlelit room filled with guests eating, talking, and dancing to a fiddler's music. The bride, dressed in white, is positioned near the center of the composition.
Technique & Style
The print is notable for its use of multiple colors, including ochre, red-pink, blue, and carmine inks, which creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. The combination of etching and wash manner techniques achieves a watercolor-like effect.
Context
The use of color in this print was unusual for its time, as most prints were typically printed in black ink.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles-Melchior Descourtis (1753–1820) was a French artist, born in Paris.
