Fire, from The Four Elements 1738 - 1749

This etching, "Fire," is part of a series of four prints, "The Four Elements," by Pierre Alexandre Aveline, a French artist known for his intricate and detailed engravings. The print, created between 1738 and 1749, depicts two figures in an Eastern setting. One figure pours a liquid into a pot while a second figure watches, with a small, seated figure overlooking the scene from above. The detailed and realistic representation of the figures, the fire, and the surrounding objects makes this artwork a testament to Aveline's mastery of the etching technique. This print, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a fine example of 18th-century French engraving.