Drinking Milk

Art Historical Context

"Drinking Milk" is a charming 18th-century etching and engraving that captures the playful spirit of the Rococo period. Created through a collaboration between painter François Boucher and printmaker Jean Daullé, the work reflects Boucher's signature style—lighthearted pastoral scenes filled with children, animals, and an air of graceful innocence. Boucher, a leading figure in French Rococo art, often celebrated the beauty of everyday rural life, and this print exemplifies how his elegant compositions reached wider audiences through reproductive prints. The medium of etching and engraving was especially significant during this era, allowing intricate details and tonal richness to be shared beyond the original painting or drawing. Here, the scene features children drinking milk alongside dogs and sheep, evoking themes of simplicity, nourishment, and harmony with nature. Such subjects appealed to 18th-century viewers seeking an idealized escape from urban life. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this work highlights the era’s fascination with genre scenes that blended whimsy with subtle social commentary. Its modest size and refined technique make it an intimate window into Boucher’s world of delight and elegance.

About the Artist

Jean Daullé|François Boucher (French|French) · 1703 |1703 –1763 |1770

French, Abbeville 1703–1763 Paris|French, Paris 1703–1770 Paris