Youth Examining his Stocking (Young Boy of the People), pl. XVI from "Recueil de caricatures" 1749 - 1759

"Youth Examining his Stocking" (1749-1759), an etching by Ange-Laurent de La Live de Jully, captures a young boy seated on a stone block, meticulously adjusting his stocking. The artist's attention to detail in the boy's simple attire and the subtle play of light and shadow creates a sense of realism and intimacy, characteristic of the Rococo period. This print, part of the "Recueil de Caricatures," showcases Jully's talent for capturing the ordinary moments of everyday life, often with a hint of humor and whimsy. The work, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, offers viewers a glimpse into the lives of the common people in 18th-century France.