Les Nouvellistes 1752

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin created this etching called "Les Nouvellistes," which translates to "The Newsmongers" or "The Gossipers" in eighteenth-century France. In Saint-Aubin’s time, Parisian society was rapidly changing, with the rise of salons and public spaces where news and ideas were exchanged. In this small, yet bustling image, we see a group of figures gathered in what appears to be a social setting, perhaps one of these new salons. The composition draws us into their world, a world of lively conversation and the dissemination of information, which was typically exclusive to the upper classes. Saint-Aubin captures a sense of immediacy, as though we are overhearing fragments of conversation. The artist’s technique adds to this effect, with quick, spontaneous lines that evoke the energy of the scene. "Les Nouvellistes" captures a moment in time when information and social interaction were becoming increasingly intertwined, shaping the cultural landscape of Paris and the lives of those within its elite circles.