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About this artwork

De prent is gegraveerd ter illustratie van Liotard's verhandeling "Traité des principes et des règles de la peinture', Genève 1781.

Art Historical Context

This etching by Jean-Etienne Liotard, created between 1779 and 1783, served as an illustration for his influential treatise *Traité des principes et des règles de la peinture*, published in Geneva in 1781. The work, measuring 382 by 291 millimeters, is the second plate in the volume, reflecting Liotard’s desire to visually demonstrate the theories he outlined on color, composition, and the principles of painting. As a Swiss artist renowned for his portraits and pastels, Liotard used this print to bridge his practical experience with written instruction for a wider audience. Etching, a precise intaglio technique involving acid-resistant grounds and controlled biting of the plate, allowed Liotard to reproduce fine details and tonal subtleties suitable for book illustration during the Enlightenment. This medium’s reproducibility made art-theoretical ideas accessible beyond elite circles, aligning with the period’s emphasis on education and rational inquiry. The print underscores Liotard’s dual role as both practitioner and theorist. By including visual examples alongside his text, he offered readers concrete demonstrations of artistic rules, enriching the discourse on painting techniques in late-eighteenth-century Europe.

About the Artist

Jean-Etienne Liotard · 1692–1789

Comment on works: Portraits