Louis-Joseph le Lorrain (?), pl. IV from "Recueil de caricatures" 1749 - 1759

Ange-Laurent de La Live de Jully created this print, Louis-Joseph le Lorrain (?), plate IV from "Recueil de caricatures," sometime in the 1700s. It is an etching on laid paper. This image is one of a series of caricatures. De La Live de Jully was a prominent figure in the French art world, known for his discerning taste and his influential role as an art collector and advisor to the court. In this print, we see a figure identified as Louis-Joseph le Lorrain, known as a painter and ornamentalist. Note the exaggerated features and the satirical tone of the artwork which can be viewed as a commentary on the social and cultural norms of 18th-century France. This image is also a reflection of the social conditions that shaped artistic production during this period. The art world in 18th-century France was heavily influenced by the patronage of the aristocracy and the Church, and artists often had to navigate complex social and political landscapes to succeed. To understand this work further, we would need to delve into archival materials to find out more about the status of artists during this period. Art history reminds us that art is not created in a vacuum.