Artwork
Rose et Colas
Rose et Colas is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jean-Baptiste Blaise Simonet. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean-Baptiste Blaise Simonet’s 1778 print titled *Rose et Colas* is an engraved work executed through etching.
Jean-Baptiste Blaise Simonet’s 1778 print titled *Rose et Colas* is an engraved work executed through etching. The image captures a domestic interior populated by two figures—a standing man holding a birdcage and a woman leaning against a doorway—surrounded by everyday objects such as a spinning wheel and a basket of vegetables. The composition conveys a moment of quiet activity within a cluttered space.
Subject & Meaning
The print presents a domestic scene in which the male figure, arm raised, appears to be looking upward while grasping a birdcage, suggesting a pause in an everyday task. The female figure, positioned near the doorframe, gazes outward, perhaps indicating anticipation or curiosity about something beyond the room. The inclusion of household items underscores the ordinary, everyday life of the period.
Technique & Style
Simonet employed the etching process, incising lines into a metal plate before applying acid to create the image’s tonal range. The resulting engraving displays careful shading that models space, giving depth to the crowded interior. Fine line work delineates the figures and objects, while cross‑hatching renders shadows, achieving a realistic yet composed visual effect characteristic of late‑18th‑century French printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1778, *Rose et Colas* reflects the popularity of genre scenes in French print culture of the late Enlightenment. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is documented in catalogues of Simonet’s prints and has appeared in collections of 18th‑century French engravings, indicating its circulation among collectors of the period.
Artist & collection
