Habit de Mallettier Coffrettier

Art Historical Context

This striking etching, created around 1690 by Nicolas de Larmessin II, belongs to the French artist’s celebrated series of “grotesque costumes.” Titled *Habit de Mallettier Coffrettier*, it portrays a trunk- and coffer-maker whose entire outfit is ingeniously assembled from the tools and products of his trade—wooden planks, nails, hinges, and chests forming a whimsical yet recognizable human figure. Rendered in crisp lines typical of etching, the print captures both the precision of the craftsman’s work and the playful imagination of late-seventeenth-century French graphic art. Larmessin’s series reflects the period’s growing interest in documenting professions, fueled by expanding trade guilds and the court of Louis XIV’s appreciation for spectacle. These images served not only as lighthearted entertainment but also as subtle commentary on social identity, transforming everyday laborers into fantastical characters. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum through the Elisha Whittelsey Fund, the print offers modern viewers a vivid glimpse into how artisans were celebrated—and gently satirized—in Baroque-era Paris. Measuring just over ten inches in height, the compact plate rewards close looking, revealing the inventive layering of tools that turns a simple portrait into a celebration of manual skill.