LâHYVER
1749â61
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-247-39
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
François Boucher, a figure of the French Rococo movement (1703–1770), *L’HYVER* (French "Winter") between 9 and 1761. As court painter to Louis XV and a master of ornate, playful compositions, Boucher often depicted idyllic scenes infused with sensuality and nature's bounty. This print likely belongs to a series representing the seasons, a popular motif in 18th-century European art celebrated the cyclical rhythms of life and the pastoral ideal. Rendered as a print, *L’HYVER* exemplifies how Boucher’s intricate designs were reproduced for wider audiences through engraving techniques, making el...