Artwork
La nuit
La nuit is an ink print by the Baroque artist Charles Emmanuel Patas. It dates from 1773 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
La nuit, executed in 1773 by Charles Emmanuel Patas, is a print that combines engraving and etching techniques. The composition presents an interior scene illuminated by a single candle, drawing attention to the figures gathered around a modest table. Patas captures a quiet domestic moment, emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow within a richly appointed room.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a man, a woman, and a child seated at a candlelit table, accompanied by a servant holding another candle and a kneeling woman nearby. Heavy drapery frames the left side, while ornate furnishings suggest a setting of modest affluence. The focused illumination on faces and hands conveys intimacy and the quiet ritual of evening gathering.
Technique & Style
Created through a combination of engraving and etching, the print utilizes fine incised lines to render delicate details in fabric, skin, and furnishings.
Created through a combination of engraving and etching, the print utilizes fine incised lines to render delicate details in fabric, skin, and furnishings. Subtle shading achieved by varying line density conveys depth and texture, while the contrast between the darkened background and the luminous candlelight enhances the three‑dimensional effect. Patas’s handling of light demonstrates mastery of tonal variation within the print medium.
History & Provenance
La nuit was produced in the late eighteenth century, a period when French printmakers frequently explored domestic scenes. While specific ownership records are limited, the work is catalogued among Patas’s known prints and appears in collections focusing on 18th‑century French engraving. Its survival in museum holdings underscores its relevance to studies of period interior genre imagery.
Artist & collection
