Tomb of Jean Jacques Rousseau 1778

This 1778 etching by Jean Michel Moreau the Younger depicts the Tomb of Jean Jacques Rousseau on the Ile des Peupliers, part of the Gardens of Ermenonville. The scene depicts a serene river landscape with a small island on which stands a simple tomb. The work is an example of the Neoclassical style popular in 18th-century France, which emphasized order, reason, and clarity in its aesthetic. The composition is symmetrical and balanced, with the tomb as the central focal point. The artist's careful depiction of the landscape, the tomb, and the figures walking towards it creates a sense of reverence and memorialization. The image was likely intended to be a commemorative print that honored the influential philosopher and writer, Jean Jacques Rousseau. The etching, now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, provides a glimpse into 18th-century landscape art and the cultural importance of Rousseau's legacy.