Namiddag: backgammon spelend gezelschap in de buitenlucht 1741

Nicolas de Larmessin III created this print, "Namiddag: backgammon spelend gezelschap in de buitenlucht", using engraving techniques sometime in the early 18th century. Engraving demands meticulous skill, with the image painstakingly incised into a metal plate. The quality of the line is crucial, and here, Larmessin shows mastery. The cross-hatching gives tonal depth to the scene. The figures are set against a meticulously rendered natural backdrop. The printmaking process allowed images to be widely reproduced and disseminated. This one speaks to the leisure activities of the French elite, as they passed their time playing games. The material reality of the print – its paper, ink, and the labour involved in its production – contrasts sharply with the leisured existence it portrays. It invites us to consider the social and economic structures that underpinned such scenes of aristocratic life. In its own way, it is a document of work and class.