Fille de Qualite Recevant visite a sa Toilette 1680 - 1696

This print, "Fille de Qualité Recevant visite à sa Toillette," was made by Nicolas Arnoult sometime around the turn of the 18th century. It's made of ink on laid paper, with the color added later by hand. If you look closely, you can see the fine, precise lines achieved by engraving the image onto a metal plate. This process, known as intaglio, would have been painstaking, requiring great skill. The paper itself also has texture, a pattern of fine lines from the mold used to make it. The crispness of the print contrasts with the casual scene of aristocratic leisure it depicts. The artist’s delicate handling transforms a commonplace subject into a valuable commodity, elevating it through the labor-intensive process of printmaking. In this way, Arnoult both documents and participates in the cycle of luxury production. By appreciating the materials and making of this print, we gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between art, labor, and social class.