Monsieur Jourdain 1835 - 1845

"Monsieur Jourdain" is an 1835-45 etching by Horace Vernet, a French Romantic painter who documented military and historical events. This print, which is currently located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a scene from Molière's 1670 play, "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme," where the titular Monsieur Jourdain, a wealthy bourgeois, is shown with a fencing instructor during a lesson. The scene, full of energy and drama, captures a critical moment in the play and showcases Vernet’s ability to render dynamic movement and composition.