Le lever de la mariée russe (Custom of the Russians after the Marriage Ceremony and before the Wedding Feast)

Art Historical Context

In the enchanting etching *Le lever de la mari russe (Custom of the Russians after Marriage Ceremony and before the Feast)*, created between 1726 and 1750, Augustin de Saint-Aubin skillfully reproduces a scene after Jean-Baptiste Le Prince. print captures an intimate Russian wedding ritual, where the bride is ritually prepared—likely undressed and adorned—by attendants in the moments bridging the ceremony and feast. Le Prince, a French artist famed for his vivid depictions of Russian customs, drew from his travels to bring exotic Eastern European traditions to Western audiences during the Rococo era. The artwork reflects 18th-century Europe's fascination with Russian culture, fueled by diplomatic ties and Peter the Great's reforms. Such genre scenes romanticized foreign rituals, blending ethnography with artistic fantasy to evoke curiosity and delight. As a print, it democratized access to these "exotic" moments, allowing collectors to own a slice of distant life. Etching's fine lines and tonal depth, mastered by Saint-Aubin, lend the composition intricate textures—from flowing fabrics to expressive faces—highlighting its technical prowess. Part of the Widener Collection at the National Gallery of Art (Department CG-E), this print exemplifies how reproductive techniques preserved and popularized Le Prince's influential oeuvre.