Taste 1620 - 1660

This etching by François Ragot, a French artist who lived from 1638 to 1670, is entitled *Taste*. The print depicts a woman in a long dress, holding up a sweetmeat to her mouth. She is in a luxurious setting, indicating the importance of taste as a symbol of refinement in 17th century France. The piece is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The image is a good example of Baroque portraiture, a genre that emphasizes elaborate detail and drama.