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 pâte d’anguilles is a print executed in 1773 by the French engraver Charles Emmanuel Patas. Produced as an etching combined with engraving, the work measures the typical size of a single‑sheet plate and presents a domestic interior rendered in fine line work. The title, translating roughly to “the eel paste,” hints at the culinary activity depicted within the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a bustling kitchen where four figures—an adult woman, two children, and a younger child perched on a chair—collaborate in food preparation. A pot hangs above a hearth, while a cat watches from the floor amid scattered bowls and plates. The scene reflects everyday labor and familial interaction, offering a glimpse into 18th‑century domestic routines.
Technique & Style
Patas employed a combination of etching and engraving to achieve varied line density and tonal contrast. Delicate cross‑hatching conveys the texture of fabrics and wood grain, while deeper incised lines define the figures’ outlines. The chiaroscuro effect, characteristic of late Baroque printmaking, enhances the three‑dimensionality of the interior space.
History & Provenance
Created in 1773, the print was likely issued as part of a series of genre scenes popular among French collectors of the period. While specific ownership records are scarce, similar works by Patas circulated through Parisian print dealers and later entered museum collections focused on 18th‑century French graphic art.
Context
During the late 18th century, genre prints depicting ordinary life gained prominence as a counterpoint to grand historical painting. Patas’ work aligns with this trend, documenting quotidian moments with a level of detail that appealed to both middle‑class patrons and connoisseurs of technical printmaking.
Artist & collection
