Artwork
Title Page
Title Page is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques-Philippe Le Bas. It dates from 1742 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
It’s one of the earliest pure title-page prints meant just to introduce a book of prints.
This etching shows a blank title page with a small, centered frame. Inside the frame is a line of tiny letters that read: "LIVRE D'ESTAMPES." That’s French for "book of prints."
Le Bas cut this plate himself around 1740–45. It’s one of the earliest pure title-page prints meant just to introduce a book of prints. No pictures, no fancy borders—just the words.
See how clean the lines are? It’s pure etching with no color. Try comparing it to Le Bas’s other prints at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Overview
Title Page is an etching and engraving created by Jacques-Philippe Le Bas around 1742.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a blank title page with a small frame containing the text 'LIVRE D'ESTAMPES', French for 'book of prints', indicating its purpose as an introductory page for a collection of prints.
Technique & Style
Executed in pure etching with engraving, the print is characterized by clean lines and a lack of color or elaborate decoration, showcasing Le Bas's skill in the medium.
History & Provenance
Le Bas cut the plate himself between 1740 and 1745, making it one of the earliest examples of a title-page print designed solely to introduce a book of prints.
Artist & collection
Title Page
Title Page
Title Page
LeMay
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