La Fuite a Dessein

Art Historical Context

**La Fuite à Dessein** (The Flight with Intent), an enchanting etching from the first state, showcases the collaborative genius of Jean Honoré Fragonard, with engravings by Jacques Couch and Charles François Adrien Mac. Created around the late 18th (date not specified), this print measures 14 x 10 3/8 inches on the sheet capturing Fragonard's signature Rococo in a compact image of 11 13/16 x 9 3/4 inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it entered the collection in 1972 through generous gifts and funds. Fragonard, a master of playful, sensual scenes, often depicted amorous pursuits and fleeting moments of desire, perfectly embodied in this title suggesting a deliberate, flirtatious escape. The etching technique—where acid bites into a metal plate for intricate lines—allowed for delicate shading and movement, highlighting women's graceful forms amid dynamic composition. As a first-state impression, it's a rare early pull, prized for its crisp details before later states introduced changes. This work reflects the Rococo era's celebration of lightness and intimacy, bridging painting and printmaking to make elite art accessible. With its focus on women in evocative narrative, it invites visitors to ponder the era's witty take on romance and pursuit.

About the Artist

Jean Honoré Fragonard|Jacques Couché|Charles François Adrien Macret · 1732–1806

Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) was a French painter and printmaker whose late Rococo manner was distinguished by remarkable facility, exuberance, and hedonism. Born in Grasse, he moved to Paris where he trained under Jean-Baptiste Chardin and François Boucher, winning the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1752. After studying in Italy alongside Hubert Robert, Fragonard returned to Paris in 1761 to fi...