La Foire de Village 1788 - 1794

"La Foire de Village" (Village Fair) is a watercolor and gouache drawing by Charles Melchior Descourtis. Created between 1788 and 1794, this artwork depicts a lively scene of a French village fair. The composition features a group of people gathered around a stage, where two figures are performing. In the foreground, a small boy with a drum walks away from the performance. Descourtis’ use of muted colors and delicate lines captures the charm and bustle of the fair, which remains a popular subject for artists today. This drawing, now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the social life of the French countryside during the late 18th century.