Hoofd van man met tricorne
1727 - 1755
Medium
etching
Dimensions
70; 111
About this artwork
Purchased with the support of the F.G. Waller-Fonds
Art Historical Context
François Boucher's *Hoofd van man metorne* (Head of a Man with Tricorne), created between 1727 and1755, captures the essence of 18th-century French elegance in a compact etching measuring just 111 × 70 mm. Boucher, a leading Rococo master famed for his lavish, playful scenes favored by Louis XV's court, here turns his gaze to portraiture. The tricorne hat—a hallmark of period fashion among gentlemen—evokes the refined world of Enlightenment-era aristocracy, where such head studies served as both artistic exercises and reproducible gems for collectors. Etching, Boucher's favored printmaking te...
About the Artist
François Boucher · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...