Jeune Chinoise marchant, entourée de ses moutons 1735 - 1745

Curator: Here we have François Antoine Aveline’s “Jeune Chinoise marchant, entourée de ses moutons,” an engraving from somewhere between 1735 and 1745. The Met has it. Editor: My first thought is, well, it’s awfully…busy. An imaginary oriental scene overflowing with decorative elements. It almost feels as if a garden exploded onto the page. Curator: Busy indeed. The density speaks volumes about the Rococo fascination with chinoiserie and the East as this space for lavish fantasy and consumerism. But notice how Aveline merges high art with craft; this wasn't just about making a pretty picture. Editor: You see the influence in the abundance of detail. The meticulous cross-hatching really brings out the texture of every leaf and tuft of sheep's wool. But tell me, isn’t the whole "exotic" narrative rather loaded? Curator: It is, undeniably. It’s worth reflecting on how Europe was appropriating and reshaping other cultures in its own image. But there’s something tender, even if skewed, in how Aveline pictures a peaceful connection between the shepherdess and her flock. Like he almost sees this landscape not as exotic, but humanized by everyday life, doesn't it make you reflect? Editor: It’s the context that always complicates things. Engravings like this fueled dreams and desires. But in terms of its materiality and production, imagine the labor involved. Each line, carefully etched, reveals this deep investment in presenting this dream world. A luxury object about a simple pastoral life. Curator: Exactly! A mirage meticulously made. Yet still somehow inviting. The level of skill on display draws you in regardless, doesn’t it? Editor: It does make you ponder the power of material culture and the global aspirations imbued in these "fantasies." I come away with a deeper interest in who purchased and cherished them. Curator: I see a yearning, expressed by Aveline in these fine lines. I think he gives a window into a culture’s dreams of a distant place, even with all its complexities. It gives a lens to history and what we want and wish.