Joconde: Le lit

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the National Gallery of Art's virtual galleries, where we encounter *Joconde: Le lit* (Mona Lisa: The Bed), an enchanting etching by Charles Louis Lingée after Jean-Honoré Fragonard, dating from around 1726 to 1750. Part of the esteemed Rosenwald Collection in the Prints department (CG-E), this work captures Fragonard's signature Rococo flair through Lingée's skilled reproductive etching—a technique where acid bites into a metal plate to create intricate, tonal lines ideal for replicating paintings or drawings in multiples. Fragonard, a master of the playful, sensual Rococo style dominant in mid-18th-century France, delighted in intimate, erotic scenes infused with lightness and whimsy. The title playfully nods to Leonardo's *Mona Lisa* (La Joconde), reimagining her in a boudoir setting that exemplifies Rococo's celebration of pleasure, luxury, and the private sphere. Lingée's etching preserves Fragonard's fluid brushwork and delicate modeling, making high art accessible via affordable prints during an era when such reproductions fueled the rising popularity of collecting. This piece highlights etching's revolutionary role in democratizing art, bridging elite patronage with broader audiences. Marvel at its mischievous charm—a testament to 18th-century French wit and the enduring allure of Fragonard's world of flirtation and fantasy. (198 words)