Par ici

Art Historical Context

"Par ici" (This Way), a delightful stipple engraving from the Widener Collection at the National Gallery of Art was crafted by Jacques-Louis Copia an original by Jean-Baptiste Mallet between 175 and 1775. Mallet, a French painter for his genre scenes and fashionable vignettes, captured the playful spirit of 18th-century, while Copia faithfully translated it into print form. This work exemplifies the collaborative artistry of the Rococo era, where painters and engravers worked together to disseminate elegant imagery to a wider audience. Stipple engraving, the chosen medium, revolutionized prin...