I started to laugh, the others laughed, then the child started laughing as well c. 18th century

Curator: This is an etching by Charles François Adrien Macret, its title rather wonderfully is, “I started to laugh, the others laughed, then the child started laughing as well.” Editor: It feels like a captured moment, a shared joy rendered in delicate lines. A real snapshot of pure, unfiltered happiness. Curator: Macret, who lived in the latter half of the 18th century, was known for his illustrations. This one certainly echoes Enlightenment ideals, doesn’t it? The emphasis on emotion, on human connection… Editor: Absolutely. And the setting—a rather idealized pastoral scene. It feels staged, almost theatrical, but there’s a genuine warmth radiating from the figures. It’s a really sweet vignette. Curator: It's intriguing how Macret portrays this shared laughter, making it almost a social commentary through an intimate family moment. The social function of art comes to mind here. Editor: Art is a mirror and also a magnifying glass... So well observed and full of playful charm. Curator: Indeed, it’s like a reminder that laughter is a universal language, isn't it? Editor: Yes, precisely; a sentiment as relevant today as it was centuries ago.