Le Bal Paré
Medium
Proof with etching and engraving; second state of four (Bocher)
Dimensions
Sheet: 11 5/16 × 16 7/16 in. (28.8 × 41.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1933
Accession Number
33.56.33
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
"Le Bal Paré," created in 1774 by Augustin de Saint-Aubin and Antoine Jean Duclos, the elegance of an 18th-century French ballroom. This etching and engraving presents a lively gathering of men and women in fashionable attire, dancing within a refined interior. Produced during the final years of the Ancien Régime, the print reflects the sophisticated social customs and courtly entertainment of pre-Revolutionary France. The work is a proof impression in the second state of four, showcasing the artists’ mastery of etching and engraving techniques. These methods allowed for intricate details in costumes, gestures, and architectural elements, making the scene both lively and precise. As a collaborative print, it highlights the vibrant printmaking culture of the period, when such works circulated widely among collectors and served as visual records of contemporary life. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece offers modern viewers a glimpse into the grace and formality of 18th-century dance. Its delicate lines and balanced composition continue to charm audiences with their timeless celebration of movement and social ritual.
About the Artist
Augustin de Saint-Aubin|Antoine Jean Duclos · 1736–1807
Comment on works: Illustrator; Engraver