The Duel (Le Duel), from Essai de Papilloneries Humaines par Saint Aubin 1751 - 1765

"The Duel (Le Duel)" is an etching by Charles Germain de Saint-Aubin, created between 1751 and 1765. The artwork is part of a series of prints known as "Essai de Papilloneries Humaines." It features a whimsical scene with two anthropomorphic butterflies engaged in a fencing duel. Surrounded by elaborate rococo embellishments, the print is a playful commentary on the social dynamics and rivalries of 18th-century French society, using insects as an allegory. The print is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.