Artwork
Ann Beekman
Ann Beekman is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Charles B.
About this work
Overview
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin’s print titled “Ann Beekman” presents a single female sitter in profile. Rendered in black mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, the image is mounted on a brown backing sheet. The composition is restrained, with the figure set against an unadorned dark field that draws attention to her form.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows a woman dressed in an elaborate costume, her attire highlighted by fine lacework and ornamental jewelry. Her coiffure is rendered with considerable detail, suggesting a concern for fashion and status. The profile pose, typical of neoclassical portraiture, emphasizes the sitter’s facial features and the elegance of her dress.
Technique & Style
Executed through mezzotint—a tonal printing method that allows subtle gradations of shade—combined with line engraving, the work achieves a delicate balance between soft modeling and crisp detailing. The artist’s handling of the dark background creates a stark contrast that accentuates the intricate patterns of lace and the sheen of the jewelry, characteristic of early‑19th‑century neoclassical prints.
Context
Created during a period when portrait prints served both as personal commemoration and as a means of disseminating fashionable imagery, the image reflects contemporary tastes for refined attire and elaborate hairstyles. Saint‑Mémin, known for his portraiture, employed the mezzotint technique to convey a sense of depth and realism within the limited palette of black ink.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (French pronunciation: ; 1770–1852) was a French portrait painter and museum director.
