Corner of the Courtyard 1864

"Corner of the Courtyard," an 1864 etching by Charles Jacque, depicts a woman and a young child in a rustic courtyard setting. The woman, likely a farmer's wife, is standing with a basket of grain, while the child reaches toward the scattering of chickens. This print, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, exemplifies Jacque's masterful use of etching to portray everyday life in the French countryside, capturing both the tranquility and the inherent beauty of rural existence. The composition, filled with detail, invites the viewer to observe the scene closely and appreciate the nuanced interplay between human and animal figures.