L'Eau 1680 - 1696

"L'Eau" (Water), a hand-colored etching by Nicholas Arnoult, depicts two elegantly dressed women near a fountain. The title and subject are linked through the depiction of water splashing around the women's feet, which are both bare, and through the fountain which is a central feature of the composition. This small-scale print, created between 1680 and 1696, was likely meant to be part of a larger series on the four elements. The artwork highlights the rococo style of the 17th century and is a beautiful example of the art of that period.