Plate from Livre de Scènes Comiques 1729 - 1732

This etching by Gabriel Huquier, titled "Plate from Livre de Scènes Comiques", is a satirical depiction of Harlequin as Emperor of the Moon from 1729-1732. This print is one from a larger series of works by Huquier that mocked social conventions and contemporary figures. This particular print shows Harlequin on a donkey-drawn carriage, with a man pushing the carriage and two women in the background. This print, along with others in the series, used humor to critique societal norms and would have been seen as a witty commentary by those familiar with the Commedia dell'Arte.