The Chapel of the Enfants-Trouvés in Paris: Groupe des bergers près d'un puits 1757

Curator: My eye is immediately drawn to the light in this print—it illuminates the scene with such gentleness, as if the sun itself is blessing these figures. Editor: This is "The Chapel of the Enfants-Trouvés in Paris: Groupe des bergers près d'un puits", a baroque print by Etienne Fessard, created in 1757. It's an etching and engraving on paper. It’s currently housed here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: "Enfants-Trouvés"—found children. That gives the pastoral scene a different feeling now. Is that…salvation they're drawing up from the well? Editor: The well certainly could be a reference point. The image comes from a series depicting scenes from a chapel dedicated to foundlings, or abandoned children. In this context, the imagery evokes themes of charity, hope, and redemption. Consider, too, the shepherds—a very common visual motif in Christian art that would carry associations of guidance, care, and protection. Curator: It's so interesting how this idyllic tableau, at first glance, feels almost purely decorative. But when you place it in the context of foundlings, a real weight settles in. You see not just shepherds, but caregivers. And a shared humanity. Editor: Exactly. The Baroque period loved embedding complex ideas within seemingly straightforward visuals. Notice how the family encircles the well: It suggests a communion of souls, each interconnected by the basic human need for nurture and sustenance. Curator: You know, looking closely at the architecture framing the scene… the arch, the stonework, the gnarled tree limbs…there’s a feeling that even something solid, permanent, contains fragility and uncertainty, just like life itself. It's a quiet but striking reminder that nothing is ever guaranteed. Editor: It's quite powerful, isn't it? The print functions on so many levels: decorative, narrative, symbolic. Even now it speaks to core social issues – care for vulnerable populations and societal responsibility – which continue to resonate across time. Curator: I will remember this print's quiet grace and the story it whispers under its breath. The art really pulls a lot, in this context, I’d expect to see even in today’s imagery. Editor: I’ll take away with me that even an image initially appreciated for its beauty can conceal many layers of meaning, offering deeper insights once we know more.