511 - J. PUNT (1711-1779), The Drinker and His Wife, 1760, Etching

J. PUNT (1711-1779), The Drinker and His Wife, 1760, Etching Jan Punt (1711 - 1779 ): The Drunkard and his Wife L'Yvrogne et sa femme, a genre scene depicting a seated man and a woman approaching him, 1760, Etching Technique: Etching on Paper Impression Quality: An absolutely superb, harmonious print with crisp lines and well-balanced black tones. Inscription: lower left signed in the printing plate: "J. Punt del. et sculps.". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "L’YVROGNE ET SA FEMME. Fable XLIX.". Date: 1760 Description: In a stone interior with a barrel-vaulted opening, a man sits on a bench, looking exhausted or dazed. A woman wearing a bonnet and a long dress approaches him from the right, holding out a bowl or basin to him, whilst her other hand touches his face. On the left, a lamp hangs from the arch; in the foreground, a large cloth lies draped over a piece of furniture. The scene is rendered using dense cross-hatching, with strong chiaroscuro between the bright opening on the left and the darker interior. The lines of sight focus on the couple’s interaction, suggesting a moralising genre scene. Source: Jean de la Fontaine (1621 -1695 ) Fables choisies, 1802 | Book, Mythology, Genre, Fashion Keywords: Interior; Couple; Man; Woman; Drunkenness; Genre scene; Stone room; Arched opening; Lamp; Bench; Bowl; Bonnet; Rococo clothing; Moral scene; Etching; Cross-hatching; Everyday life; domestic scene; fable; French text; 18th century; Classicism; Genre; France; Size: Paper: 19,4 cm x 12,8 cm (7,6 x 5 in), Depiction: 13,2 cm x 8,3 cm (5,2 x 3,3 in) Condition: Good condition. Overall, in good condition for its age and well preserved. Puncture marks from an old binding are visible along the side of the page; there is a slight tear at the top. The corners of the sheets are slightly bumped. There is some browning along the edges. A few faint waterstains are visible. There is a short tear in the top right-hand corner.