Artwork
Le pate d'anguilles
Le pate d'anguilles 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
Le pate d'anguilles is an 1773 etching by French printmaker Charles Emmanuel Patas. Executed in the traditional copperplate technique, the work captures a bustling interior scene populated by several figures engaged in a communal activity.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a group gathered around a table. A seated man on a stool is attended by another standing figure who holds a sizable bowl. To the right, a woman stands, while a figure can be seen through an open window above, suggesting an extended domestic space.
Technique & Style
Patas employed fine line work typical of eighteenth‑century etching, rendering objects such as a large pot, plate and jug with precise hatching. The interplay of light and shadow across the interior creates a sense of depth and movement within the limited tonal range of the medium.
History & Provenance
Created in 1773, the print reflects Patas’s activity during the late Enlightenment period. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has been documented in several European print collections, confirming its circulation among connoisseurs of the era.
Context
The scene reflects everyday domestic life in late‑18th‑century France, a period when genre subjects gained popularity in printmaking. The inclusion of household objects and a windowed view aligns with contemporary interests in depicting ordinary social interactions.
Artist & collection
