The Child and the Cat 1778

"The Child and the Cat" is an etching created by Marguerite Gérard in 1778, when she was 17 years old. The piece depicts a young girl, the artist herself, holding a doll while a cat peeks out from behind a wall. Gérard was a prolific artist and etcher, and her work often focused on domestic scenes and childhood. The etching, a printmaking technique using an acid-etched metal plate, showcases Gérard's artistic talent at a young age, capturing the innocence and charm of childhood with subtle detail and graceful lines.