Morning

Art Historical Context

This exquisite print titled *Morning* showcases the collaborative talents of designer François Boucher and engraver Gilles Edme Petit. Created through intricate techniques of etching and engraving, the work measures just over 12 by 8 inches and captures the refined elegance typical of 18th-century French art. Boucher, a leading figure of the Rococo movement, was renowned for his graceful depictions of women in intimate, decorative settings, and this print likely reproduces one of his compositions for broader audiences. The subject—a woman accompanied by a parrot—highlights themes of portraiture and natural motifs popular in the period. Parrots often appeared in such works as symbols of exoticism and companionship, adding a lively, conversational element to the scene. As a print, the piece reflects the era’s growing interest in reproductive techniques that allowed art to reach collectors beyond the original painting’s owners. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, *Morning* offers visitors a window into the delicate interplay of line and tone achieved in etching and engraving. Its presence in the Drawings and Prints department underscores the lasting appeal of Rococo imagery and the skill of artisans like Petit in translating painterly charm into lasting graphic form.

About the Artist

Gilles Edme Petit|François Boucher (French|French) · 1694 |1703 –1760 |1770

French, Paris 1694–1760 Paris|French, Paris 1703–1770 Paris