Paul and Virginia 1805 - 1827

"Paul and Virginia" is an 1805-1827 engraving by Alexandre Joseph Desenne, a French artist who lived from 1785 to 1827. The work, currently located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a romantic scene of two figures embracing in a lush forest setting, likely representing the tragic love story of Paul and Virginia, a famous novel by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre. The black and white engraving creates a sense of depth and detail, enhancing the romanticism and melancholic mood of the scene.