La Parisienne (2)

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of Belle Époque Paris with *La Parisienne (2)* a captivating 1902 print by French artist Jacques Villon (1875–1963). Created early in Villon's career—before his explorations in Cubism—this softground etching and aquatint depicts a Parisian woman, embodying the city's fashionable allure at the turn of the century. Villon, known for his masterful printmaking, captures the essence of urban modernity through elegant lines and subtle tones. The technique shines here: softground etching allows for textured, drawing-like effects by pressing paper into a softened etching ground, while aquatint adds rich, painterly gradations mimicking watercolor washes—all in black ink on smooth wove paper. Measuring 47.7 x 37.2 cm on the plate, this intimate work highlights printmaking's democratic power, making high art accessible beyond paintings. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Prints department (thanks to the Eugene L. and Marie-Louise Garbáty Fund), *La Parisienne (2)* reflects Paris's cultural zenith, where fashion icons like the Gibson Girl met avant-garde innovation. It's a window into Villon's evolving style, bridging Impressionist lightness with modernist precision.

About the Artist

Jacques Villon · 1875–1963

Jacques Villon, born Gaston Émile Duchamp on July 31, 1875, in Damville, Normandy, hailed from a family brimming with artistic talent. As the eldest of six children, he grew up alongside his brothers Raymond Duchamp-Villon, a pioneering sculptor, and Marcel Duchamp, the renowned Dadaist, as well as his sister Suzanne Duchamp, also a painter. Their maternal grandfather, Émile Frédéric Nicolle, a pr...