Artwork
Marriage a la Mode: pl.1
Marriage a la Mode: pl.1 is an ink print by the Baroque artist Louis Gerard Scotin. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Louis-Gérard Scotin’s print *Marriage à la Mode* (plate 1), executed in 1745, is an etching and engraving that portrays a bustling interior scene. The work measures a modest size typical of 18th‑century prints and is catalogued as a single plate within a larger series that satirizes contemporary social customs.
Subject & Meaning
A gentleman in an elaborate coat leans on a cane, another holds a fan, while a woman in a loosely fitted dress observes.
The composition gathers six figures around a card‑playing table, suggesting a leisurely yet competitive gathering. A gentleman in an elaborate coat leans on a cane, another holds a fan, while a woman in a loosely fitted dress observes. The crowded walls, filled with paintings and carved reliefs, and the distant city view through a window, underscore the opulence and pretensions of the upper class, aligning with the title’s hint at marital fashions.
Technique & Style
Scotin combined etching’s fine line work with engraving’s deeper incisions to achieve a range of tonal values. The delicate hatching defines textures—fabric, wood grain, and architectural detail—while cross‑hatching deepens shadows, creating a sense of depth in the crowded space. The style reflects the Rococo taste for intricate interiors and lively, anecdotal scenes.
Context
Created in mid‑century France, the print belongs to a series that circulated among collectors interested in moralizing genre scenes. While the original plates are held in several European print collections, the work’s provenance traces back to private owners who acquired it as part of the broader interest in satirical depictions of marriage and social conduct during the Enlightenment.
Artist & collection
