Le mercure de France c. 1780

Heinrich Guttenberg's "Le mercure de France" (c. 1780) is an etching depicting a pastoral scene with figures in an outdoor setting. The print features figures dressed in fashionable clothing, with a group of men and women in a clearing in a woodland, while a lone woman in a voluminous gown stands to the right with an open parasol. This print, now held by the Art Institute of Chicago, provides a glimpse into the leisure activities and social interactions of the 18th century, offering a visual commentary on the era’s taste for naturalism and idealized portrayals of fashionable life.