Les folâtres jeux sont les premiers cuisiniers du monde
Medium
etching and engraving
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Widener Collection
Accession Number
1942.9.2503
Art Historical Context
In the late 18th century, the elegant twilight of France's Rococo era, *Les folâtres jeux sont les premiers cuisiniers monde* (The Frolicsome Games Are the First Cooks of World) captures a whimsical allegory. Created in 1778 by engraver Robert Delaunay after design by Jean-Michel Moreau leading illustrator of his time—this etching and engraving depicts playful figures, likely cherubs or children, embodying the joys of creativity as the origins of culinary arts. Moreau, renowned for his intricate vignettes in luxury books like those of Voltaire, infused such works with lighthearted fantasy, bri...