37/89

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

"37/89" is an intriguing etching by French artist Jean Moyreau, created sometime between approximately 1733 and 1762. Measuring 358 mm high by 476 mm wide, this substantial print exemplifies the refined printmaking traditions of 18th-century France during the Rococo era. Moyreau, a skilled engraver trained in the workshop of the renowned Audran family, was for his precise reproductive works and ornamental designs, often capturing the of contemporary painting and decorative arts. Etching, the medium here, involves coating a metal plate with acid-resistant ground, scratching through to expose lines for acid biting, allowing artists like Moyreau to achieve delicate, fluid lines and subtle tonal gradations. This technique was pivotal in disseminating high art to a broader audience, bridging courtly luxury with emerging collector culture. The title "37/89" likely references its position in a numbered series, hinting at Moyreau's prolific output of cataloged prints. Adding to its allure, the verso bears a collector's mark stamped Lugt 240, identifying ownership by Pieter Cornelis, Baron van Leyden (1717–1778), a prominent Dutch connoisseur whose esteemed library and cabinet of curiosities underscored the era's passion for fine prints. This provenance elevates "37/89" as a window into Enlightenment-era collecting, blending French virtuosity with Northern European appreciation.