Trade Card of Pierre Mourgeon

The artist employed a traditional etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate with a needle before applying acid to bite the design. This method yields sharply defined edges and delicate tonal variation, evident in the crisp outlines of the structures and the subtle shading of the street. The small scale intensifies the intimacy of the scene.

Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French‑American artist active in the late 1700s, the print was produced as a trade card—a commercial advertisement—likely intended to promote a business or service. It entered the Corcoran Collection, which was incorporated into the National Gallery of Art’s holdings, where it remains part of the museum’s print and drawing department.