Artwork
La cache-cache
La cache-cache is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Nicolas Schencker. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
La cache‑cache is a hand‑colored engraving produced in 1804 by the Swiss artist Nicolas Schencker. The work depicts a domestic interior illuminated by daylight, where two young girls are engaged in a game of hide‑and‑seek. One child is concealed behind a draped curtain, while the other peers around a wooden chair, their attire reflecting the heavier fashions of the early nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a moment of childhood play, emphasizing themes of secrecy and discovery within a private, sunlit space. By focusing on the simple pleasure of a game, Schencker invites viewers to consider the everyday rituals that structure family life, while the contrast between the hidden figure and the observing child underscores notions of curiosity and the social dynamics of observation.
Technique & Style
After printing, he applied color manually, a labor‑intensive method that yields vivid, precise hues while preserving the crispness of the engraved lines.
Schencker employed the traditional engraving process, incising fine lines into a metal plate to create the image’s outlines and tonal variations. After printing, he applied color manually, a labor‑intensive method that yields vivid, precise hues while preserving the crispness of the engraved lines. The work’s delicate cross‑hatching and careful shading convey depth and texture, particularly in the fabric folds and the play of light across the room.
History & Provenance
Created in the early nineteenth century, La cache‑cache reflects the period’s interest in genre scenes that document domestic life. While specific ownership records are limited, the engraving has been cited in catalogues of Schencker’s oeuvre and appears in collections that focus on Swiss printmaking of the Napoleonic era, illustrating the artist’s engagement with popular subjects and the hand‑colored print market of his time.
Artist & collection
