Les poussins

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso midden onder, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

"Les Poussins" is a delicate print created by the French engraver Gilles Demarteau between 1756 and 1776. Executed in the crayon manner, a specialized technique that imitates the soft lines and tonal qualities of chalk or pastel drawings, the work measures just 232 by 165 millimeters. This intimate scale invites close viewing, revealing the fine gradations Demarteau achieved through stippling and patterned lines that mimic hand-drawn strokes. Demarteau played a key role in popularizing the crayon manner during the mid-to-late eighteenth century, a period when prints helped circulate artistic ideas across Europe. By reproducing the appearance of original drawings, such works allowed a broader public to appreciate the spontaneity of sketches without needing access to private collections. The title suggests a lighthearted subject—likely young chicks—aligning with the era’s interest in charming, everyday scenes drawn from nature. A collector’s stamp on the reverse (Lugt 2228) indicates the print once belonged to a notable historical collection, underscoring its enduring appeal to connoisseurs. Today it offers viewers a glimpse into both the technical ingenuity of eighteenth-century printmaking and the gentle aesthetic sensibilities of its time.

About the Artist

Gilles Demarteau · 1729–1776

Gilles Demarteau the Elder, born on January 19, 1722, in Liège, began his career steeped in the craft of metalwork. The son of a gunsmith, he learned engraving and goldsmithing from his father before moving to Paris around 1748–1750 to join his brother, who worked as a goldsmith for the engraver De Lacollombe, renowned for firearm ornament designs. Demarteau trained in De Lacollombe's workshop as ...