Les Papillons en scene ou Theatre Italien (Butterflies on Stage or Italian Theater, from Essai de Papiloneries Humaines par Saint aubin)
Medium
Etching in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 32.7 × 24 cm (12 7/8 × 9 1/2 in.); sheet: 41 × 29.2 cm (16 3/16 × 11 1/2 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141420
Art Historical Context
Charles-Germain de Saint-Aubin’s charming etching *Les Papillons scène ou Théâtre Italien* invites viewers into a whimsical world where butterflies take center stage. Created between 1756 and 1760 as part of the artist’s series *Essai Papilloneries Humaines*, the print depicts elegantly costumed butterflies performing in the lively atmosphere of an Italian theater. The scene blends natural history with playful fantasy, reflecting the 18th-century fascination with both entomology and theatrical spectacle. Executed as a delicate etching in black ink on ivory laid paper, the work showcases the m...