Le lever

Art Historical Context

**Le lever** (1771) is a delicate etching and engraving by Jean Mass, faithfully reproducing a composition by the French Rococo painter Pierre-Ant Baudouin. Housed in the National Gallery Art's Widener CollectionDepartment CG-E), this print captures the playful intimacy of 18th-century galant scenes, where everyday moments like rising from bed were elevated into elegant vignettes of daily life and subtle sensuality. Baudouin, a prominent figure in the waning Rococo era, specialized in lighthearted, eroticized depictions of women in private settings, blending whimsy with refined sensuality. Massard's masterful translation into print preserves the original's fluid lines and soft modeling, showcasing the Rococo's love for curves, ornament, and emotional warmth just before Neoclassicism's rise emphasized austerity. Etching and engraving were revolutionary techniques for the time, allowing affordable dissemination of high art to collectors across Europe. This print exemplifies how reproductive prints democratized elite painting, bridging courtly tastes with a broader audience and highlighting the Widener Collection's focus on exceptional 18th-century works. A charming window into pre-Revolutionary France!